Explore The Extraordinary at 100% Design South Africa

Expect no run-of-the-mill fare at this year’s 100% Design South Africa pavilion at Decorex Cape Town, running from 1-5 May 2019 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) and organised by the globe’s leading exhibitions company, Reed Exhibitions.

Aptly entitled 100% Extraordinary, this display of ultra-unusual designer products and pieces is a collaboration between Platform, the curators of 100% Design South Africa and a selection of leading local brands, in an effort to push design beyond the bounds of the ordinary.

Under the theme Botanical Office, 100% Extraordinary explores the concept of an office space that offers an antidote to the norm. ‘The botanical theme is a no-brainer for me,’ says Creative Director of 100% Design South Africa, Cathy O’Clery, ‘I feel people have a huge desire to connect with nature these days and I see no reason why this can’t come into a workplace. Cape Town is a beautiful city surrounded by the most extraordinary nature – there is no reason not to bring that into a space where we spend the majority of our time.’

Office spaces today need to be practical and hardwearing without being hard-lined or sterile. In line with this thinking, the Botanical Office theme showcases brands that bring a human-centric element to design.

100% Extraordinary’s participating design businesses include the fairest of the Cape, such as contemporary furniture designers Kino, textile designer David Bellamy, lighting design specialists Hoi P’loy and ceramic artists Louise Gelderblom and Mervyn Gers. All are champions of the local and the sublimely handmade.

Mervyn Gers

Mervyn Gers is a proudly South African ceramics studio based in Cape Town specialising in bespoke dinnerware for restaurants, chefs, shops, game farms, boutique hotels and more. Their work is exquisite and you can expect a beautifully earthy end result that is intrinsically African.

All the products chosen for display were selected in consultation with O’Clery, who also provides the creative direction for the stand appearance.

Laduma Ngxokolo of Maxhosa.

Says Sandra Jardim, General Manager of 100% Design South Africa at Reed Exhibitions: ‘We are thrilled to see that 100% Design South Africa continues to stimulate the local design industry by attracting and promoting the country’s leading designers to a dedicated trade audience. We’re certain that our interior design trade guests – not to mention members of the public – will find 100% Extraordinary and its humanising direction for workspaces simply out of this world!’