A house of many stories, and objects
● Homeware, this time of the fair-trade sort, featured prominently in my second outing for the week, too.
The location is Joburg’s trendy 44 Stanley precinct for the launch of The Storer, an emporium offering bric-a-brac from sustainable crafters across the globe.
It is a miserably wet Thursday evening as I shake off my umbrella and make my way into the store, a veritable Aladdin’s cave of gorgeous objects, from hand-woven straw cushions to Moroccan ceramics.
Sipping on Taittinger champagne, we are greeted by Lisa Storer, the entrepreneur behind the store that bears her name and who encourages us to ask her about the stories behind any of the objects on display.
One couple who have already made a couple of purchases from the store are realtor Tumi Senaoana and Katekani Mashele, who own a woven planter and gifted a friend a tea set.
I am just greeting trends guru Dion Chang and socialite Peta Eggierth-Symes, a vision in red with one of her signature wax print wraps, when in walks A-lister Colin Coleman, who has just come off a plane from Cape Town.
The Goldman Sachs South Africa head is sans his gorgeous partner, Nerina Labuschagne, who is home with their son, Kyle.
Celebrity hairdresser David Gillson is there with his wife, Allison, and I catch up with actor Eden Classens, who I have got to know as a model (he’s walked in a couple of my menswear collections) and who these days has risen to fame as an actor on Afrikaans soapie Suidooster.
The ginger is also wowing audiences as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars and introduces me to his dance partner, Ash-Leigh Hunter, an Aussie performer from Perth who was brought in for the show.
“They had to get me help from overseas,” Eden jokes.
Most striking dressers on the night have to be chef Carlos Dias (wearing bedazzled Gucci shades, pinstripe pants and a sheer top that shows off his tattoos), and Carmen Owen, in a yellow and black striped ensemble. The cutest is Olwethu Leshabane, who is 38 weeks pregnant and has brought along her five-year-old son, Morgan.
“Another boy,” she tells me when I ask about the sex of the new addition. Foodwise, I enjoyed the modern and delicious menu served by Pippa’s Food, a caterer I hadn’t heard of before but one worth taking note of.
I particularly loved the beetroot arancini balls and the lemon and honey rump skewers rolled in pistachio dust, while my mate, Wanted ed Jacquie Myburgh, raved about the parmesan goujeres with braised short rib and truffle mayo.