South African design for Europe

31.07.2011

Beaches, mountains and the ocean — visitors of the country at the Cape of Good Hope are fascinated by the unique landscape. Now a piece of South Africa will be transferred to Europe in terms of a collection of home textiles that has been created during the cooperation between Cotton made in Africa, the company Tchibo and the young South African Clayton Emile Coutriers.

The landscapes of South Africa have exerted its influence on the young and nature-loving designer since his childhood, which he spent in a rural area of the country. The beauty of the seasons and the glorious play of colours of the flora and fauna are important sources of his inspiration and decisively influenced his work for the bedding collection “Africa Dreams” for Tchibo. It was very important for Coutriers that the collection was totally made out of Cotton made in Africa cotton: “By cooperating with Tchibo I have the chance to support trade with Africa and it gives me great pleasure to be able to contribute to the success of the Cotton made in Africa initiative.”

The engagement for sustainability of the young designer, who will not be graduating until the end of 2011 at the “Tshwane University of Technology”, has already been awarded: With his cushion collection “Dance of a Thousand Seasons” the young artist won the “Green Designers competition” that had been set up by Woolworth and the magazine House & Leisure in 2009.

As important as an environmentally responsible attitude to nature is his role as ambassador for the South African design. With the collection “African Dreams” he wants to show how modern and contemporary design from South Africa can look like and likewise contribute to strengthen the importance of South African design in Europe. “The African design culture has a good outlook to inspire the international market.”

The textiles from the cooperation will be available in Tchibo outlets and its online shop under www.tchibo.de from 12 July 2011.

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