Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Shining light of Design Indaba is just Tutu bright
THE Tutu 2.0 Pendant Light has won the title of Most Beautiful Object in South Africa at the 2018 Design Indaba Festival.
The announcement was made at the Artscape Theatre Centre yesterday, where the annual celebration of design and creativity ends today.
According to the Design Indaba website, the “annual endeavour to find the most beautiful object in South Africa manifests as a competition open to public votes and an exhibition”.
This year designer Thabisa Mjo beat nine other nominees.
Speaking to Weekend Argus, Mjo described it as a “full circle moment”.
“It’s just incredible for me to win this because in 2016 I was announced as co-winner of the Hot Young Designer Competition at Design Indaba with this same product.
“So for it to win two years later is just the best, creates legitimacy for me as a designer and shows that my designs do resonate with people,” she said.
The light was inspired by the Xibelani skirts often worn by Tsonga women, known for their layers and vertical pleats.
“When I first saw Xibelani skirts, they reminded me of African tutus, hence the name Tutu 2.0.
“My primary target market is always those whose cultures are represented in my designs. It’s always so incredible when someone recognises themselves in one of my objects,” said Mjo.
The lamp is a re-imagining of the traditional ballerina tutu, drawing on inspiration from Western and African fashion styles. It was nominated by entrepreneur Thato Kgatlhanye.
The light is made using steel rods as the frame, which is reinforced with woven strands of wool and beads.
Mjo has a background in production design from Afda and architectural drawing from Inscape Design College.
In September 2016, she launched her first lighting collection called “Pieces of Me”, which was inspired by childhood games and fashion.
The collection won the best emerging talent award and best product award at 100% Design.
The Tutu 2.0 light has been installed in restaurants all over the world, including Cape Town, Malaysia, Washington and London.
Mjo plans to open a showroom in Johannesburg later this year where the public can see her entire range of creations.
The 10 nominations were on display for the entirety of the Design Indaba, which ends today.