Mother City is alive with new Design Trail

Stimulating sights and sounds allow Cape Town to be a creative capital. SERIES: OVER 100 STOPS OF CURATED ROUTES

It’s high time to explore the Mother City’s world-renowned and ever-dynamic creative community. Design is putting its best foot forward on the inaugural Cape Town Design Trail which ends at the end of the month.

Over 100 participating designers, studios and brands are bringing the entire month to life with a stimulating array of launches, exhibitions, presentations, talks and displays. The new trail gives participants one-on-one access to incredible showrooms and private maker spaces while raising the bar for the industry and involving the city as a whole.

Not-to-be-missed, the trail is presented by the Decorex Africa portfolio and is the first of its kind for the city. The array of stimulating sights and sounds allows Cape Town to cement its reputation as a creative capital, and a former World Design Capital.

To help you make sense of the variety and number of participants, the trail has been divided into a series of curated routes, each with its own theme.

Here are some of the stimulating routes to experience:

LOCAL DESIGN

An entire firmament of the city’s design stars have come out for the trail.

Haldane Martin and willowlamp, both renowned Cape Town-based studios, are two award-wining “veterans” of local design, having earned their stripes on both the local and international front over a period of two decades.

Willowlamp is launching new wall sconces and throwing open its factory to the public throughout the month.

Other well-known local names to watch out for include Kirsten Goss, Bofred, Andrea Brand, Meyer von Wielligh and Kino.

Clout SA and HUB will be launching to the public for the first time as part of the trail, hosting a stimulating showcase of all-new South African design including pieces by Joburgbased designers Thabisa Mjo and The Urbanative, as well as a new bench and light by the winner of the 2020 Nando’s Hot Young Designer talent search.

ART

Art institutions, Zeitz MOCAA and the Norval Foundation are gearing up to greet trail guests, alongside individual artists, galleries and entities. Leading lights include sculptor Dylan Lewis, Spier Arts Trust, Eclectica Contemporary and Imiso Ceramics.

Imiso’s principal artists Andile Dyalvane and Zizipho Poswa are currently flying the flag high for South African ceramics.

Dyalvane is hosting a solo at the Friedman Benda gallery in New York, while Poswa’s work has been acquired by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Famed local wine estate Spier is hosting a major art exhibition in its historic manor house.

TASTEFUL PITSTOPS

Designer boutique hotels such as Gorgeous George, Grand Daddy, The Silo by The Royal Portfolio, and Spier will provide dazzling watering holes along the way.

Network at restaurants and bars where design business mixes beautifully with pleasure.

HIGHLIGHTS

One of the hotel highlights is that Decorex Africa, in conjunction with Grand Daddy, has invited interior designers to redecorate the interiors of the characterful Airstream caravans that are located on the roof of the hotel.

A calling card for the hotel, this unusual hospitality solution can be booked by guests. Expects flights of fancy and imagination to be launched in a spectacular aerial or urban setting.

But the best thing about the new Cape Town Design Trail? It’s absolutely free to participate and all are welcome, all you need to do is register!