Frontier Issue 3 by Pure Creative Agency

IS OF E S E N T D ZI EN U A SA M G A L I E o.za P D .c M I S O M R G slaw T H C B E .ed w H I T E N ww IS E

Meet the people whose contributions are making a difference in the lives of South Africans

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ISSUE 03 WITH COMPLIMENTS

THE T R AV E L & LU X U R Y ISSUE SUMMER 2014

PHOTOGRAPHER: GIOVANNI AGRESTI FIUMARA

W W W . E D S L A W . C O . Z A

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ISSUE 03 WITH COMPLIMENTS

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

THE T R AV E L & LU X U R Y ISSUE SUMMER 2014

I L L U S T R AT I O N C O N C E P T B Y W W W.P U R E C R E AT I V E .C O. Z A I L L U S T R AT E D B Y J A C Q U E S E R A S M U S - © P U R E C R E AT I V E

WELCOME Welcome to the third issue of FRONTIER. We are enthralled to tell you that the last two issues of this magazine have inspired so many people into realising the depth of contributions made by foreigners living and working in South Africa, especially in and around the Mother City. Our magazine explores the ‘tip of the iceberg’, but as it evolves into a more substantive publication, the ocean of expatriates will be plumbed even deeper. It gives us and our team here at Eisenberg de Saude a great deal of pleasure to hear from readers in South Africa and across the globe who might have taken FRONTIER from one of its stands at Origin Coffee, Jason Bakery, Truth, One&Only Cape Town, or the BA Lounges at Cape Town International Airport. Our readership is growing, both digitally and in hard copy. This issue explores the contributions made by foreigners to Luxury and Travel. Our clients have become our friends, creating a private client business, where we do not only deal with temporary and permanent residence permit applications of foreigners but we deal with their lives as they unfold and develop in this country.

We dedicate this issue not only to our clients who appear in these pages, but to all our clients who have taken root in this country, with courage, tenacity, and the will to do great things. This country is blessed to have them with us. Please enjoy your reading.

Gary Eisenberg & Stefanie de Saude

KAT VAN DUINEN DESIGN 375 Albert Road, The Old Biscuit Mill, Woodstock +27 21 447 6582 09:00–17:00 POLTRONA FRAU 24 Somerset Road, Green Point +27 21 418 0726 09:30–17:30

OKHA 109 Hatfield Street, Cape Town +27 21 461 7233 08:00–17:00

3 JASON BAKERY

4 LINDT CHOCOLATE

185 Bree Street, Cape Town +27 21 424 5644 07:00–15:30

STUDIO Shop B104, Cape Quarter, 72 Waterkant Street, Cape Town +27 21 831 0360 10:0 10:00–18:00

U RADDISON BLU HOTEL Beach Road, Granger Bay +27 21 441 3000

GARY EISENBERG / STEFANIE DE SAUDE

SC SCAN THE QR CODE WITH A MOBILE WI DEVICE TO VIEW DE THE ONLINE EDITION TH OF FRONTIER MAGAZINE

EISENBERG DE SAUDE

OUR SERVICES SOUTH AFRICAN IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP Eisenberg de Saude advises on, prepares and facilitates the ﬁling of temporary and permanent residence and citizenship applications locally or at South African diplomatic missions abroad. We ensure that our clients submit compliant applications to the Department of Home Affairs and that their applications are treated with dignity and are lawfully processed and adjudicated.

OBTAINING LITHUANIAN CITIZENSHIP Eisenberg de Saude assists the descendants of former Lithuanian citizens to obtain Lithuanian citizenship. Lithuanian citizens have complete freedom of movement within the European Union and enjoy visa-free travel to many countries, including the United States, Canada and Australia.

OUR KEY SERVICES INCLUDE: TEMPORARY RESIDENCE (Work, Corporate, Relative, Study, Retired, Medical) PERMANENT RESIDENCE CITIZENSHIP (Regularising Status, Naturalisation) LITIGATION (Deportation, Extradition, Inspectorate Investigations) OBTAINING LITHUANIAN CITIZENSHIP

FRONTIER MAGAZINE is d designed and published by PURE CREATIVE AGENCY for EISENBERG DE SAUDE

www.purecreative.co.za Call +27 21 424 6918

EDITORIAL & CREATIVE TEAM EDITOR-IN-C H IEF Gary Eisenberg EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Stefanie de Saude CREATIVE DIRECTOR Andrew Burke EDITOR Michelle Marais

E IS E N B E R G D E SAUD E AT TO R N E Y S AT L AW TELEPHONE: +27 21 421 7003 INFO@EDSL AW.CO.ZA WWW.EDSL AW.CO.ZA

DEPUT Y ART DIRECTOR Dave Strauss S ENIOR DES IG NER Tess Green PRODUCTION MANAGER Marianne Burke FR ONTIER is distributed by Eisenberg de Saude quarterly and is available on request (email info@edslaw.co.za) or scan the QR code above.

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HOTS POT

WORDS: MICHELLE MARAIS

REF.

BREAKING BREAD

JASON BAKERY 185 Bree Street, Cape Town +27 21 424 5644 07:00 – 15:30

Known as Cape Town’s Captain Bread, artisan baker Jason Lilley has transformed the humble loaf into a scrumptious offering fit for the gods. rom his time as a student at Johannesburg’s Swiss Hotel School in 1997, to his days as head pastry chef at Pezula Resort and Spa in Knysna, Jason Lilley always had a knack for kneading.

The artfully tattooed baker has enjoyed a loyal following since his days of working in the kitchen of Jardine Bakery, which he co-founded with an old friend and former colleague, George Jardine. Now, having opened his own bakery on busy Bree Street, the baker is enjoying the success accompanying the café culture boom in the Mother City. “The café culture offers customers an intimate experience. There is a lot of one-on-one interaction and a sense of community. Pavement dining has become very favourable. We live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world and people want to be outdoors. Our customers are part of our family.” And it is all about location. Along the trendy street, bespoke stores and restaurants have opened their doors, all which inspires creativity and quality. “Being located on Bree Street deﬁnitely keeps you on your toes,” Lilley says. “We are continuously coming up with new ideas for menu items that showcase the breads and pastries that we make at the bakery. From the jams, marmalades and preserves, to the sauces, pastries and breads, every product on our shelves is made in-house.” His food philosophy is based on four pillars: integrity, honesty, quality and consistency. “We bake today for today. We don’t use any preservatives, enzymes or dough improvers in any of our products – clean real food. We try to use free range and be as organically minded as possible when it comes to our ingredients,” Lilley says. “We use local organically grown stoneground ﬂour for our breads and pastries.” As far as the menu goes, well, “The customers get what I like,” Lilley responds; and like, they sure do.

NAME: JASON LILLEY COUNTRY OF BIRTH: SOUTH AFRICA RELATIONSHIP WITH EISENBERG DE SAUDE: GARY EISENBERG AND HIS WIFE HAVE BEEN FREQUENT CUSTOMERS OF JASON BAKERY FOR MANY YEARS.

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“ The café culture offers customers an intimate experience.”

LINDT

REF.

HOTSPOT

LINDT CHOCOL ATE STUDIO Cape Quarter, 72 Waterkant Street, Cape Town +27 21 831 0360 10:00 – 18:00

“I believe the classical flavours will always dominate and origin chocolate will become even more relevant.”

DARK DELIGHTS Tucked away in the heart of De Waterkant, the old Cape Quarter hosts every sweet tooth’s dream, the Lindt Chocolate Studio. At the head of the delightful operation stands one of the Mother City’s chocolate maestros, head chocolatier Dimo Simatos. How important is formal training in the world of chocolatiering? My training began as an apprentice in hotel pastry kitchens, which provided a good foundation from which to specialise. Much later in my career, I progressed to having formal training in chocolate work in France and the United States. Having formal training is quite important as it provides the right techniques and skill set to build on, as well as imparting not only skills, but the ethos of the craft. Most of my development and learning has happened in the subsequent years through my own self teaching and experimenting which proves to be a slightly longer journey at times but more rewarding. What made you gravitate towards chocolate as opposed to other specialisations? Having started as a pastry chef, my love for the sweeter side of culinary was always there. Bakery and chocolatiering are the two most interesting crafts and since chocolate always featured very strongly in my work, it was a natural progression. The opportunity Lindt presented me with – showcasing my craft here in South Africa – sealed the deal. Chocolate must be an exciting medium to work with as it offers flexibility in terms of creativity. How do you apply this in the Lindt Chocolate Studio?

Absolutely, chocolate has amazing flexibility and allow me to express creativity and sensibility. It can be an unforgiving medium at times. Temperature and environment have to be respected. At the Lindt Chocolate Studio we have materialised the art of the chocolatier – artistic chocolate showpieces, handmade chocolate pralines, desserts and pastries – but also in having professionals and non-professionals participate in making chocolate products in our classes. Where do you source your ingredients to ensure that you produce a product of highest quality? All our ingredients are the very best we can source either locally or internationally. Our Couverture Chocolate is Lindt manufactured to the highest standards and this is essentially the majority and base of all our products.

Are there any trends in chocolate and if so, which do you predict for 2014? Trends are difficult to predict as they are competition driven to some extent. I believe the classical flavours will always dominate and origin chocolate will become even more relevant. As far as we are concerned, experimenting with flavours like milk chocolate and cardamom, 60% chocolate and black pepper, burnt honey and thyme, cherry and chilli, and rosewater and litchi is right on trend. Apart from retailing in chocolates, ice cream (sold exclusively) and a variety of chocolate-related merchandise, including recipe books and fondue sets, the studio also offers courses for chocolate lovers. Appreciation classes, Dessert Tasters and the Art of Truffles and Cupcakes are just a few. The workshops have been designed in such a way to allow attendees to create, play and explore many of the techniques of chocolatiering.

NAME: DIMO SIMATOS COUNTRY OF BIRTH: SOUTH AFRICA RELATIONSHIP WITH EISENBERG DE SAUDE: A FEW OF OUR LINDT STAFF MEMBERS ARE EUROPEAN AND REQUIRE TEMPORARY WORK PERMITS. EISENBERG DE SAUDE HAS BEEN A GREAT HELP IN FACILITATING THE WORK PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESS.

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T RAVEL

IN VERD OORN G A M E RE SE RVE

HIDDEN GEM OF THE LITTLE KAROO World renowned for its cheetah rehabilitation centre, Inverdoorn Game Reserve consists of 10 000 hectares of land teeming with remarkable wildlife, including the Big 5. By employing individuals with a willingness to learn and a passion for restoring the region, the luxury game reserve’s owner, Damien Vergnaud, has been instrumental in sustaining the biodiversity of the Little Karoo.

With more than 1 200 wild animals, including the Big 5, roaming freely across the reserve, how do you keep track of their whereabouts? We keep track of all the free-roaming animals. It is important due to the poaching situation which threatens the security of the rhinos and other animals. As a result we have permanent, 24-hour security on the reserve. Inverdoorn Game Reserve is home to one of the most prominent cheetah rehabilitation centres in the world. Do you employ locally trained rehabilitators? Yes, we do; but we have a different approach and a unique way of building relationships with the cheetahs. We employ local people with a willingness to learn and achieve a bold objective, learning about conservation and ecology along the way. Does Inverdoorn ever collaborate with zoos regarding rehabilitation? No, we do not. We believe in creating the best possible, and most natural, environment for the animals and restoring the region (the Karoo) to what it used to be. In 2012, Inverdoorn was proud to announce the introduction of freeroaming elephants in the Ceres Karoo for the ﬁrst time in 150 years. Where do these elephants come from and has the numbers grown since then? We have two male elephants. Bully, the older of the two, was not only relocated to Inverdoorn in 2012, but also rescued. He was orphaned as a calf and trained in the old-fashioned way – cruel methods were used to adapt and manage his behaviour. He was in the movie industry until he was about 12 years old. He became aggressive and was moved to a zoo where he remained for six to seven years. He escaped

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and a permit to shoot him was issued. It was at this stage that Inverdoorn agreed to take him in and give him a second chance. We wanted to provide an opportunity of rehabilitation for this elephant that had a bad life. The change in his behaviour has been so profound that the BBC wants to scientiﬁcally document his story and the unique way in which this change took place. We took this elephant that was unhappy and built a relationship with him to the point where he is now sweet and kind. He is healthy and roaming free with his friend, Nduna, the other male elephant. They have adapted to their freedom so well and Bully has reconstructed his relations with humans to the point where I can put my hand in his mouth and touch his trunk.

“WE BELIEVE IN CREATING THE BEST POSSIBLE, AND MOST NATURAL, ENVIRONMENT FOR THE ANIMALS AND RESTORING THE REGION.” At Inverdoorn, guests have the opportunity to meet the cheetahs. How do you ensure that these wild animals don’t grow too accustomed to human interaction? The tame cheetahs that guests meet have been rescued and cannot be released into the wild, due to the circumstances from which they came. Velvet, for example, was mistreated before she came to Inverdoorn and had her tail slammed in a door and broken. Tails are vital to a cheetah’s hunting ability and therefore she is not able to hunt and fend for herself. We do not choose their path, but try our best to accommodate their character and habits and give them the best possible life.

While accommodating guests, do you educate them about the importance of rehabilitation and sustainability to ensure a lasting impact? Yes, we do see ourselves as a communication platform for conservation. Our guests are introduced to our initiatives, RhinoProtect and Cape Cheetah, during game drives, cheetah interactions and visits to the rhino orphanage. We are active on social media as well, keeping guests – old and new – informed and updated about what happens at the reserve and with wildlife situations in general, particularly the cheetah and the rhino. Many of our guests are visiting South Africa for the ﬁrst time or going on their ﬁrst safari and, while they may be aware of problems like poaching, they do not always know what kind of solutions are out there, and we hope to increase awareness about the difference everyone can make.

NAME: DAMIEN VERGNAUD COUNTRY OF BIRTH: FRANCE RELATIONSHIP WITH EISENBERG DE SAUDE: EISENBERG DE SAUDE ASSISTED OUR FAMILY WITH ITS SOUTH AFRICAN IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS AND CONTINUES TO ASSIST OUR STAFF IN THIS REGARD.

REZIDOR HOTELS

T R AV E L

REF. RADDISON BLU HOTEL Beach Road, Granger Bay +27 21 441 3000

UNSURPASSED SERVICE EXCELLENCE From Germany to London, New York to Ireland, Friedrich Schaefer is an old hand in the hospitality business. Carlson Rezidor’s regional director of sub-Saharan Africa now finds himself established in Cape Town, working enthusiastically to exceed the expectations of all who enter their hotels.

WITH FRED With a portfolio of 1 319 hotels in operation and under development around the world, how does Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group ensure that each and every guest is provided with outstanding service? Employee training is always key to good and consistent service. At Carlson Rezidor we have a service training programme called ‘Yes, I can’, which trains employees to have a positive, customer-friendly approach to their work; and to strive to exceed guest expectations, not sometimes, but always. In addition, there are a number of other training programmes designed for speciﬁc

departments or areas of expertise, to ensure that employees stay well informed and up to date on industry developments, technology, and customer trends and expectations. All employees, regardless of their level, participate in a development and review process. This ensures that everyone has targets and aims, and gets constant feedback on their progress. As a growing company, it is beneﬁcial to both the employees and the company if we can develop and promote from within our own talent pool.

“IT IS EASY TO STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE IF YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING.” The hotel group is renowned for its standards of excellence. How do you strive for excellence in your personal life?

It is easy to strive for excellence if you are passionate about what you are doing. In my personal life I share my passions with my family: football, good books, excellent food and wine, unforgettable holidays and lots of laughter. In your opinion, how does the global hospitality sector compare to that of the local? Globalisation brings with it many beneﬁts. However, it is best when combined with local ﬂair and expertise. In Africa, there are so many different cultures and traditions to enjoy and it is important that this remains part of the service offering here. The trend within the industry is that the larger companies will continue to expand as can be seen by Marriott’s recent acquisition of Protea Hotels. The real success will come to those who combine the homogenous expectations of the big companies with local standards. In South Africa, most people in service are very natural and very

comfortable with guests; this is something that does not exist everywhere so it should be encouraged and not changed. Being one of the fastest-growing hotel groups in the world, what would you attribute Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group’s success to and where do you see it going in the next decade? The company has a clear strategy in all aspects of its business and ensures that all stakeholders are passionate about delivering their part of the puzzle. Our over-riding focus is encapsulated by ‘The 4Ds – Develop our Talent; Delight our Guests; Drive the Business, and Deliver Results. Under each one of these headings, we set clear, measurable goals and all decisions are linked to this simple framework. In terms of the next decade, Carlson Rezidor is currently focused on sub-Saharan Africa and we will continue to put a lot of work and energy into developing this region.

NAME: FRIEDRICH SCHAEFER COUNTRY OF BIRTH: GERMANY RELATIONSHIP WITH EISENBERG DE SAUDE: GARY AND THE TEAM AT EISENBERG DE SAUDE HAVE BEEN RELIABLE AND TRUSTED ADVISERS OF MINE SINCE I ARRIVED IN SOUTH AFRICA. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND ANYONE WITH IMMIGRATION OR RESIDENCY ISSUES TO TAKE TIME TO SPEAK WITH THEM BEFORE MAKING DECISIONS.

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LUXURY

KAT VA N D UI NE N

WORDS: MICHELLE MARAIS

FOR THE LOVE OF FASHION Crafting unique pieces using luxurious silks and exotic leathers, Belgium fashion designer Kat van Duinen has established herself as the epitome of stylish simplicity and a fashion force to be reckoned with.

REF. KAT VAN DUINEN 375 Albert Road, The Old Biscuit Mill, Woodstock, Cape Town +27 21 447 6582 09:00 – 17:00

WITH KAT

fter relocating to Cape Town from Antwerpen, Belgium in 2006, Van Duinen’s passion for effortless elegance and attention to detail drove her to follow her dream and start Kat van Duinen Design in 2010. Through her eponymous label, the designer’s European heritage and love for the vibrancy and richness of South Africa have been fused into a unique blend of European minimalist style with accents of striking African prints and electric hues. A labour of love, every handmade piece is produced with painstaking care, showcasing the skill of South African workmanship as she keeps her promise that every single item is proudly made in Cape Town. Kat van Duinen Designs is known for producing exceptional clothing, shoes and bags. What would you describe as the Kat van Duinen woman’s signature style? For the woman who adores effortless chic – that understated sexiness found in minimalist cuts, luxurious fabrics and impeccable tailoring – yet loves an element of surprise, like a hit of electric blue or vibrant shot of African print, Kat van Duinen pieces are designed for you. It is a beautiful blend of juxtapositions: sleek minimalism meets rich details and striking design. It’s functional fashion without sacrificing style, quality or uniqueness. From exotic leather handbags and clutches crafted from exquisite ostrich, crocodile and python skins sourced only from licensed and approved suppliers, to sumptuous silk dresses, skirts and blouses, Kat van Duinen Design is the ultimate in functional yet fabulously feminine fashion. And every single piece is produced in Cape Town, proudly supporting and celebrating South Africa’s fashion industry. What is your design philosophy and from what do you draw inspiration for your various ranges? I draw inspiration from everything

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Investing in local artisans is one of the easiest, safest and most responsible ways of giving back to our communities.

around me, but inevitably it is all rooted in the country I have fallen in love with: South Africa. I am drawn to South Africa’s vibrancy, landscapes, nature, art, music, melting pot of cultures and richness, in every sense of the word. In all my ranges and collections, there is the signature Kat van Duinen aesthetic that you can see throughout. I always work in exotic leathers and skins for my accessories, while silk, satin, linen, raw silk and bold African prints are the constant fabrics throughout my clothing collections. One of my signatures is premium, natural fibres. I avoid working with synthetic materials because they do not sit on your shape as elegantly, or move as fluidly with your body. They also do not allow your skin to breathe, do not last as long as natural fabrics and, of course, they do not look or feel refined or luxurious. There is also always a modern minimalism about my cuts: clean lines, no-fuss silhouettes, sleek shapes – in this, I draw inspiration from my European heritage and the elegant minimalism that embodies this. But underpinning my design philosophy is this: fashion must be

both showstoppingly beautiful and fully functional. What you wear must not only suit your look, shape, style and personality, but it must also suit your lifestyle. So a huge part of my inspiration comes from everyday life: what can I create that makes a woman feel utterly amazing, yet also become a functional part of her busy lifestyle? All your offerings are produced in Cape Town, making it proudly South African. Why would you encourage potential clients to support local artisans when it’s less costly to buy imported goods? To put it simply: cheaper does not necessarily equal better. Firstly, imported goods may seem cheaper, but the quality of these pieces is often far below their retail price, which means that you’ll be spending money on items that simply do not last. Secondly, investing in local artisans is one of the easiest, safest and most responsible ways of giving back to our communities. You are investing directly in the future of South Africa and are allowing craftsmen to uphold their trade and pass their skills on to the next generation. You are ensuring that local artisans can earn a healthy, honest and sustainable living, and thus you are contributing towards a more prosperous and thriving South Africa. Sometimes the country’s vast economic problems can seem overwhelming but you could help by buying local and supporting local artisans. Not to

T R U B L U TA I L O R I N G

LUXURY

A MATTER OF TIME The luxury of living must involve the wearing of a masterly crafted wrist watch. For those readers who follow horological trends, please find below a selection of our favourite watches, in our own collections and those we have spied on the wrists of our clients. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: A. CLUTCH BAG, OSTRICH, MIDNIGHT BLUE B. IPAD CLUTCH, PYTHON, NATURAL C. STRUCTURED MEDIUM TOTE, OSTRICH, MIDNIGHT BLUE D. IPAD CLUTCH, OSTRICH, BLUE E. CLUTCH BAG, CROCODILE, BLUE

mention that South Africa boasts some of the world’s finest professionals. Many of my clients are tourists who cannot believe the wealth of creativity and talent we have. With your boutique located in Woodstock’s Old Biscuit Mill, would you say the artistically booming suburb has an effect on your creativity and innovation? Woodstock is an eclectic, electric hub in Cape Town, bursting with creatives that are sure to inspire and energise you, so it is a wonderful base for both my boutique and my studio. It is always wonderful to be surrounded by other dreamers and innovators, whether it is in the food, furniture or fashion industry. It is also fantastic to feel part of a supportive community, and the Old Biscuit Mill certainly has that sense about it. By employing local craftsmen only and sourcing all of her materials within South Africa – a feat achieved by few – Kat van Duinen’s commitment to producing items entirely in South Africa is nothing short of inspiring and her designs are a luxurious addition to every woman’s wardrobe.

NAME: KAT VAN DUINEN COUNTRY OF BIRTH: BELGIUM RELATIONSHIP WITH EISENBERG DE SAUDE: EISENBERG DE SAUDE IS THE MOST PROFESSIONAL COMPANY, SPECIALISING IN IMMIGRATION LAW. MY PERMANENT RESIDENCY AND BUSINESS PERMIT BECAME REALITY NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THEIR EFFORTS, BUT ALSO A PERSONAL APPROACH. IT WAS MR EISENBERG WHO ENCOURAGED ME TO TEST MY ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS AND FOLLOW MY PASSION. I COULD NEVER THANK HIM ENOUGH FOR ALL THE ADVICE AND MORAL SUPPORT.

MADE TO MEASURE

By sourcing exquisite fabrics from all over the world, Hhenry Krrips has been able to artfully stitch together the perfect suits for his plethora of remarkable clients from across the globe.

“

Tailoring and design is an inborn art,” Krrips says when asked about his journey to becoming a distinguished tailor. “You only apply to tertiary institutions to polish your skills.”

After obtaining his masters degree in design, he focused his energy and time on men’s and women’s corporate wear. Krrips gained valuable knowledge by studying the different weaves, textures and compositions of fabrics from around the world. “The colour combination is of utmost importance,” he says. “It is not only about matching two fabrics, but about choosing the right colour to complement client’s skin tones. All the aspects of tailoring fascinates me,” he continues. “You know what they say, ‘Do what you love. Know your own bone and success is yours.’ It’s the words I live by.” The talented tailor sources his prized fabrics from around the world. His collection consists of more than 3 000 fabrics including fabrics used for making beautiful shirts. “Even though the collection is vast, I strongly recommend the ﬁnest fabrics from the mills of England or Italy to all my clients.”

stockbrokers. “Today, looking professional isn’t optional. Some of my clients include local and international celebrities, which demands me to keep up to date with the latest fashion trends.” When Krrips isn’t dressing the who’s who of the business sector, he occupies his time by making sharp wedding suits. “I believe everyone, irrespective of sex, should leave no stone unturned to look ravishing on their big day.” On enquiring about his dream for Trublu, Krrips responds, “I am scared to be vocal about a speciﬁc dream – I want to avoid limiting myself. It’s what I love best about human tendency, we’re re never satisﬁed.”

RELATIONSHIP WITH EISENBERG DE SAUDE: MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MR EISENBERG IS HARD TO PUT INTO WORDS. APART FROM HIM BEING A VALUABLE CLIENT, HE IS A MAN I RESPECT AND TRUST COMPLETELY. HE LOVES FABRICS OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY, IS CONFIDENT IN HIS STYLE AND ND

His clientele spans various professions including bankers, doctors and

HE TRUSTS ME TO TAKE CARE OF HIS CLOTHING DEMANDS.

Bregeut Marine Royale Breguet Marine Chronograph Audemars Piguet Concept GMT Tourbillon Rolex Oyster Perpetual u DateJust Jaeger-LeCoultre re Duomètre à Sphérotourbillon Sph

OKHA INTERIORS

WORDS: MICHELLE MARAIS

ADAM COURT

LUXURY

REF. OKHA 109 Hatfield Street, Cape Town +27 21 461 7233 08:00 – 17:00

DESIGNER DIALOGUE Fleeing his home country of England at 17, Adam Court knocked on the door of British fashion designer Jasper Conran and landed a job as general dogsbody. Decades later, the designer draws upon his wealth of international experience as creative director of OKHA. they quickly found that people were interested in what they had found in South Africa and realised the potential market. “If you take a beautiful handmade object and put it in a contemporary space, it brings layering and soul to an interior. It’s an essential ingredient for personalising a space,” he says.

atapulted into the fast, dynamic, extrovert and arty environment in Soho was an illuminating experience for 17-yearold Court. After doing a generalist course in art and design he headed off to specialise in sculpture at Camberwell School of Art, worked at Notting Hill’s eclectic Crucial Gallery and joined a production company. Three years later, he headed to Los Angeles where he met and fell in love with a Dutch actress. When her agency sent her to Cape Town for six months, Court tagged along. While based in the city, they used the opportunity to travel extensively in Southern Africa and both fell in love with the artefacts, sculpture, street craft and fabrics that could be found there. Back in Paris with a small container full of artwork

Soon they had clients all over the world and their new passion had become a business. Once the couple had a family, they decided to uproot and move to Cape Town. Starting out as a supplier to OKHA, the retail wing of Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects (SAOTA), he was soon made partner in the company, where he designs objects for the shop and bespoke pieces for clients. OKHA Interiors’ furniture has been labelled as personifying African luxury. What would you describe as African luxury and how does the brand epitomise this? Contemporary, luxury, African interiors and design should not be timid about referencing and expressing their cultural roots and geographical context. African tribal art is a rich source of form, line and colour. African culture has been inspirational to many great artists – Braque, Picasso and

Cubism. Modern Africa is prevalent in fashion, graphic design, music and, of course, art. At OKHA we celebrate the eclectic, the diverse richness of cultures and creative languages, playing with contradiction and juxtaposition. OKHA sets a new standard in the world of contemporary furniture and interior design with a distinctive and personal style that personifies African luxury. Our design team supports and promotes the many talented South African artisans and artists, working hand in hand to design and produce furniture, lighting, artefacts and accessories of a personal style to the highest international standards. How does OKHA go about sourcing materials and picking designers and artisans to ensure the continuous production of high quality products? It is a combination of designers and artists coming to us, and OKHA identifying specific designers or artists to commission for project specific works. In South Africa, we work with very talented and skilled artisans who specialise in materials ranging from ceramic, glass, metals, timber and fabric. Quality, design originality and integrity are fundamental to our work.

With Cape Town being World Design Capital 2014, do you think creatives will be inspired to turn out some of their best work yet? Undoubtedly so. Creatives across the country will be ensuring their voice and style have a place in the vibrant festivities. As a creative ﬁrm, we have risen to the challenge of having the world’s eyes upon our beautiful city and are using that as momentum to keep growing and pushing ourselves to produce creativity of the highest calibre. For example, we use OKHA as the base for our Street Museum of Design (SMoD), which will make use of our glass showroom windows and create an interactive museum, accessible to the public. We wanted to play with the idea of a museum, usually closed off and elite, and make design-inﬂuenced content available to everyone. This content will be mined from all over the country, the continent and across all industries and given free to the public throughout the year through our generous partnerships and affiliation with WDC itself. Not content to stick with designing only, the talented creative director continues to paint, sculpt and write poetry in his free time. All talents cementing Court’s reputation as design extraordinaire.

NAME: ADAM COURT COUNTRY OF BIRTH: ENGLAND RELATIONSHIP WITH EISENBERG DE SAUDE: EISENBERG DE SAUDE ASSISTED ME WITH MY APPLICATION FOR A BUSINESS PERMIT. THE FIRM’S APPROACH WAS HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL AND MADE A USUALLY LABORIOUS PROCESS SMOOTH AND HASSLE-FREE.

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OBJECTS OF DESIRE

LUXURY

AFRICA

The iconic Italian furniture brand POLTRONA FRAU brings prestige and expertise to the shores of South Africa.

REF. POLTRONA FRAU 24 Somerset Road, Green Point +27 21 418 0726 09:30–17:30

As the cradle of humankind and home to one of the world’s first civilisations, Africa has developed and fostered crafts, techniques and inspirations that can be seen as some of the foundations of global luxury. African luxury is an homage to the cultural roots of Africa. It acts as a reference equally regarding the preservation and fluorescence of its heritage and craftsmanship with the utmost quality, but most importantly by conveying its unique luxe ubuntu identity.

with exclusive design and we have furnished many of the finest and largest projects around the world, residential and contract signature buildings and also produce all leather interiors for Ferrari and Maserati,” Giorgia says.

litza Giorgia, dealer principal and brand ambassador of Poltrona Frau, fled the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia together with her husband, architect George Giorgia. They made South Africa their home in 1999 and worked on developing a new market for the luxury brand. In 2012, the iconic luxury brand celebrated a century of design by opening a flagship store in Cape Town. Originating in one of the world’s design capitals, Italy, the brand’s international reach has established it as a global leader in the luxury design industry. Founded in 1912, Poltrona Frau has become a highly recognisable presence in a number of sectors including residential, office, as well as interiors for aeroplanes, yachts, helicopters, trains and cars. “Poltrona Frau offers top quality furniture

The underlying philosophy of ubuntu gives African luxury an added purpose: it creates a dynamic relationship with the community by promoting a model that takes into account its well-being and strives for the overall creation of wealth. In other words, luxe ubuntu‘s focus is not solely based on its own success, rather on the possibility of positively contributing to its environment as a whole, which in turn makes it unique.

Carefully selected natural materials such as leather, wood and a variety of fabrics work alongside highly innovative materials, resulting in durable products of the premier quality. Each creation is hand-made and with the artisan knowledge being handed down through generations, the products are of the highest international standard. “Poltrona Frau flagship stores stretch from New York, Rome, Paris and Milan to Cape Town and is a brand name that symbolises luxury, constructed as discreet and universal elegance as craftsmanship and perfection,” Giorgia adds. With each pattern cut, stitch made and nail lovingly hammered by hand, Poltrona Frau is setting the bar for furniture design, producing objects of desire.

NAME: ELITZA GIORGIA COUNTRY OF BIRTH: BULGARIA RELATIONSHIP WITH EISENBERG DE SAUDE:

JUST IN: Under an agreement signed in February 2014, Haworth Inc. will acquire 58.6 per cent of the shares in Poltrona Frau Group that are now held by two private shareholders, equity firm Charme Investments Ltd, which was founded by Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo, and Moschini S.r.l. The deal is subject to antitrust review in Italy. The acquisition — one of the largest in Haworth’s history — is expected to close by the end of April.

Swaady Martin-Leke, Ivorian entrepreneur and founder of the gourmet tea company YSWARA, sheds some light on the new narrative that’s developing around Africa and its emerging luxury market.

WE STRIVE TO HELP THE YOUNG DESIGNERS AND ARCHITECTS WHO HAVE MOVED TO SOUTH AFRICA AND WHO ARE CONTRIBUTING TO OUR COMPANY BY ASSISTING THEM WITH IMMIGRATION PERMITS. IN DOING SO, WE HAVE FOUND A GREAT FRIEND AND IMMIGRATION LAWYER IN MR EISENBERG. HE HAS ASSISTED THESE INDIVIDUALS WITH OBTAINING THEIR PERMITS, SOMETIMES IN

Today, Africa is experiencing the changes brought about by a renaissance initiated almost two decades ago. Africans are displaying their initiative, creativity and individuality in a fantastically enterprising manner. This means two things for the global luxury market: Africa is developing a thriving and self-sustaining luxury industry that is achieved by individuals embodying these qualities, and unique and high quality products and services are expected by like-minded customers. Hence, not only is the whole global luxury market setting its sights on Africa as the fastest growing market, but also as the next main innovative centre of the world.

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