Reflecting Style: The Vision Behind Re-flect Mirrors

Re-flect Mirrors was born from a visionary desire to fill a unique gap in the Southern African market—providing high-quality, customizable mirrors that cater to the retail, residential, and hospitality industries. Recognizing the dual role of mirrors as both functional items and essential design elements, the founders set out to create products that elevate spaces while reflecting personal style.

In this Q&A, we explore the inspirations behind Re-flect Mirrors, the guiding design philosophy, and the meticulous craftsmanship that goes into each piece. We also delve into the materials used, the innovative design process, and the future trends that are shaping the mirror industry. Whether you’re an architect, designer, or homeowner, discover how Re-flect Mirrors transforms ordinary reflections into extraordinary statements.

1. What inspired the founding of Re-flect Mirrors, and what was the vision behind the brand?

Re-flect Mirrors saw a gap in the Southern African market which inspired a desire to be the first company dedicated to manufacturing high quality customisable plain & LED Backlit mirrors for the retail, residential & Hospitality industry. The founders recognized that mirrors are not just practical items but also important design elements that can enhance a space’s aesthetic. The vision behind the brand was to create high-quality, stylish mirrors made in South Africa that serve as both decorative pieces and functional tools, encouraging architects, designers and customers to reflect on their style, design and the spaces they inhabit. By focusing on craftsmanship and innovative designs, Re-flect Mirrors aims to elevate the ordinary into the extraordinary, making each mirror a statement piece in any room environment or bathroom area.

2. Can you describe the design philosophy that guides your mirror collections? What sets your products apart?

Re-flect Mirrors embraces a design philosophy centred around elegance, functionality, and sustainability. The collections are manufactured with a focus on quality materials and components, ensuring that each mirror is not just a decorative piece but also a functional element in a space. Lighting intensity and practicality is important. Our mirrors design focuses on producing the right lighting whether it be for ambiance, decorative, Make-up or shaving purposes. Each mirror can be customised with this design intent and the needs of the customer in mind.

3. How do you ensure quality and craftsmanship in each mirror you create?

At Re-flect Mirrors South Africa, ensuring quality and craftsmanship is a top priority, and the use of state-of-the-art machinery plays a crucial role in this process. Here’s how we achieve that:

1. Precision Cutting: Advanced Glass cutting CNC machines allow for precise measurements and shapes, ensuring that each mirror meets exact specifications without compromising on design integrity.
2. High-Quality Materials: We source premium Pilkington Opti Clear Anti Corrosive Mirror Sheets directly form the UK. Our machinery is capable of handling these materials with care, reducing the risk of defects.
3. Finishing Techniques: State-of-the-art finishing equipment is used to polish edges and apply protective scratch resistant coatings, Lazer etching for Motion and Touch sense Icon design, enhances both the look and longevity of each mirror against corrosive atmospheric elements. This attention to detail ensures a flawless final product.
4. Quality Control: Throughout the manufacturing process, we implement rigorous quality control checks using specific lighting to check for mirror defects. Automated systems help monitor the production line, ensuring that any discrepancies are caught and addressed promptly.
5. Skilled Craftsmanship: While technology is essential, with over 30 years of experience in glass and mirror manufacturing, our skilled artisans and mirror technicians play a vital role in the final assembly and finishing stages. Their expertise, combined with advanced machinery, guarantees that each mirror is crafted to perfection.

By integrating cutting-edge technology with traditional craftsmanship, we create mirrors that not only meet but exceed industry standards, delivering products that are both beautiful and built to last.

4. What types of materials do you use in your mirrors, and why are they important for durability and aesthetics?

At Re-flect Mirrors all plain, decorative and LED mirrors are manufactured from 5mm Pilkington Opti Clear Anti Corrosive mirror which helps withstand against aggressive sea air and moisture aggravation. We only use the state-of-the-art electrical components. All fixing materials are made from anodised lightweight aluminium.  

5. Can you share insights into the design process for a new mirror? How do you bring an idea to life?

At Re-flect Mirrors South Africa, the design process for creating a new mirror is a collaborative and multifaceted journey that emphasizes research and development. Here’s an overview of how we bring an idea to life:

1. Conceptualization: The process begins with brainstorming sessions where our design team explores new themes, trends, and inspirations. We often look at global design trends, cultural influences, and customer feedback to identify gaps in the market.
2. Research and Development: Extensive research is conducted to understand materials, manufacturing techniques, and customer preferences. This phase includes exploring eco-friendly materials and innovative designs that enhance functionality while maintaining aesthetic appeal.
3. Prototyping: Once a concept is solidified, our designers create detailed sketches and digital renderings. Prototypes are then developed, allowing us to visualize the design and make necessary adjustments before moving to production.
4. Testing and Feedback: Prototypes undergo rigorous testing to evaluate their durability and functionality. We often seek feedback from architects and designers to refine the design further based on user experience and practicality.
5. Finalization: After incorporating feedback, the final design is approved, and detailed specifications are prepared for production. 
6. Production: With the final design in place, the manufacturing process begins. Our state-of-the-art machinery and skilled artisans work in tandem to ensure each mirror is crafted to perfection, maintaining our commitment to quality.
7. Launch and Marketing: Once the mirrors are produced, we strategize on how to present them to the market. This involves creating marketing materials that highlight the unique features and design philosophy behind mirror design. Many new designs are advertised via our retail partners for customer feedback.

By integrating thorough research and a structured design process, we ensure that every mirror we create not only meets our high standards but also resonates with our customers’ tastes and needs.

6. What tips would you offer to customers looking to choose the perfect mirror for their space?

We at Re-flect Mirrors pride our selves in the fact that interior designers, architects and clients can choose the mirror design that enhances their design space. They are not forced to choose from a standard stock item or imported product. Due to our highly customisable ability to manufacture from scratch, we guide the client to understand both the need for the mirror design to be beautiful and practical at the same time. When choosing a mirror the customer needs to have an idea of what they want the mirror to do for them both aesthetically and functionally in the space they have in mind.

7. What future innovations or trends do you foresee in the mirror design industry, and how is Re-flect Mirrors preparing for them?

As a leading Mirror manufacturer, it is important for us to keep up with international trends as well as set new design trends for many of the markets we are currently servicing such as Southern Africa, Australia, UAE and Saudi Arabia. With AI & Bluetooth technology at the forefront of innovation and with the growth of the smart home and the internet. Re-flect Mirrors is constantly making sure we can offer innovative Mirror products that can easily assimilate into these trends with the development of Smart interactive Mirrors for both the residential, hospitality and Retail spaces. This is a new and exciting upcoming feature in our mirror designs in the future.  

Contact: Re-flect Mirrors