Sisters lay down some style at design awards do
● Last year its winners were mostly of the pale and male variety. So, as I made the trek to Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand on Women’s Day for this year’s 100% Design Awards, I was hoping that these gongs recognising design excellence in the interior space would have more of a feminine bent.
And while the night’s top award did deservedly go to the check-shirted lads behind Houtlander, Stephen Wilson and Phillip Hollander, a sprinkling of women also drew a few trophies.
Take Bonolo Helen Chepape, who won best textile design.
Her designs celebrate women and her heritage in bold pattern and print through her LulasClan enterprise.
Interior designer Alice Hutton got the nod for best office design.
The awards, which form part of the 100% Design SA showcase run by design duo Cathy O’Clery and Laurence Brick, drew a trendy crowd of design folk like Donald Nxumalo, the interior designer who recently completed work on Somizi Mhlongo’s Zimbali pad, and Bridgette Sutter, the coowner of textile purveyor Fabric Bank.
The night’s soundscape was created by DJing sisters Zanele and Zodwa Kumalo, while the food — mini pitas, lamb tagines and chickpea, lentil and veg curry and chipolatas — was passable but could have been served in more appropriately stylish tableware.