GUIYANI MONTEIRO
For Guiyani Monteiro, founder and owner of lifestyle brand Ants, day-to-day life is about curating, collecting and collaborating. Guiyani founded her company as a meeting ground for diverse creative disciplines. Through pop-ups, curated retail experiences, workshops, talks, exhibitions and more, she has developed a platform to celebrate talent from across the continent and beyond. She shares some of her inspirations and tells us how she stays grounded.
My favourite ways to reconnect with myself are meditation (it has changed my life), dancing (another form of meditation for me) and being around the people I love.
I listen to podcasts mainly in the car and, when the week is kind enough, in my evening bath. Lately I’ve been listening to The Tim
Ferriss Show; hey, girl; What Works and Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations.
I can listen to any of Sade’s albums over and over. Her music and voice has a nostalgic feel and the power to create emotion. It’s like the soundtrack of my day, any day.
An interior design trend I’m loving is rugs as wall art. Having a rug at eye level is the perfect way to appreciate it.
When it comes to African design, I love the fabrics and textures Dema Chena is exploring.
I can’t live without my white couch. I think it’s one of those things I will always want to have, wherever home may be. The white gives me the right balance of lightness and comfort, and it’s the perfect canvas for conversation and family time. My favourite travel destination is Mozambique, either somewhere secluded and exclusive, such as Vamizi Island on the Quirimbas Archipelago, or somewhere vibey and accessible, such as Tofo in Inhambane.
My favourite way to spend a day in Joburg ... is get up early and go for a run in my tree-filled neighbourhood. If I don’t have work commitments, meeting friends and loved ones for breakfast at a cool spot in town sets the right mood for the day. Then I get into the hustle and bustle and, hopefully, arrive home before the sun sets. I spend time with my son. We go for a walk, or I run around with him in a park. On weekends I like to be outdoors to take advantage of Joburg’s beautiful clear skies; go to a gallery, a play, or somewhere to get me inspired. I like to finish off the day at a house party with the coolest, most eclectic crowd that only Jozi can curate.
I can listen to any of Sade’s albums over and over ... It’s like the soundtrack of my day