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Aug 14, 2017

Chair Crazy: Connecting Africa with the World

There is still the archaic misconception, even in the most modern of countries, that South Africa is deepest, darkest Africa. That we have wild animals roaming our dusty streets and a population sporting loin cloths and living in mud huts. This sounds completely ridiculous, especially considering the impact of technological advancement over the past two decades, which has resulted in millions of people having access to a considerable amount of information online. And yet this mistaken belief still exists.

Not only are we not wearing loin cloths and dodging lions, there is a sizable number of South Africans who live, work, and play in very modern, totally on-trend, stylish homes, offices, and restaurants. Technology has enabled so much online information to be shared worldwide that the local interior designers of our ever-emergent country are not only aware of fashion trends and forecasts but are accomplished enough to compete in the international arena.

This office situated in Rondebosch, Cape Town, was commended in the Third International Green Interior Awards

It must be acknowledged that there is still a massive portion of our population who continue to live in poverty, without access to decent education, let alone live or work in trendy spaces. But this does not mean there is any lack of aesthetics or trending international influences. With the low value of the Rand, there are few people who can afford costly, original designer fittings. This is where replica stores like Chair Crazy come in – making fashion more accessible and affordable for those who wish to enhance their lifestyle.

Pictured above is the official mobile app by Siesta Design Furniture. Collections, gallery and exclusive previews are especially made available for viewing on an iPad.

Thanks to Google and social media platforms, not only do South Africans have a multitude of influences to draw from, but the gap in our adaptation of global trends has narrowed. This means we are now seeing international styles and trends hitting our stores a lot sooner than in previous years. Technology has also had a major influence on interior design operations with a reduction in expenses and (most particularly) production time.

So if you’re someone who’s keen to stay consistently on-trend, changing your space is much less of a palaver than it was in eras past! The process of curating a space has also become more personal. These days, you don’t even have to leave your house to peruse a shop’s catalogue or view a designer’s work. You don’t need as much specialised equipment to plan your space either – there are so many computer programmes and apps at your fingertips to give you a leading role in the design process. Of course, this does not mean that interior designers no longer feature. They still have a specialised knowledge that makes them invaluable to the design process. Up and coming designer Alison Thomson put it brilliantly, saying that “it’s the designer’s role to understand the real need of the client and to represent the client’s fundamental interest, much like a spam filter.

Then we communicate the client’s interests to suppliers – using modified, relevant language.” Chair Crazy, like many other cutting-edge stores, has a well-populated, regularly updated website and social media following. As a replica store, they offer a wide range of chairs, stools, and tables that are to be found as original designer products or replicas all over the world. They stock popular designs such as those of acclaimed designers Charles Eames, Phillip Starke and Hans Wegner.

For more visit www.chaircrazy.co.za.


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