Some of the most treasured possessions that we harbour in our homes are the cultural artefacts we’ve discovered along our travels. Wherever our wings have taken us, there’s always that one item that escorts us home as an immortal accessory to the memories. The incidental things that seem to communicate with us, somehow, as if they’ve been waiting for us to select them. Handwoven textiles, beautifully beaten vessels, curious sculptures, paintings and poetry, or a piece of jewellery with a provenance worth preserving.
Cape Town is particularly good at pandering to the heart of a souvenir collector. Beyond the predictable racks of fridge magnets and mass-produced curios, the Mother City has a revered retail culture. In which sophisticated African craftsmanship, contemporary design, heritage, and a certain Cape eccentricity coexist rather beautifully.
For those inclined to look beyond the obvious, eager to discover objects that will be intrinsically stitched into the fabric of their journey to Africa, here are just a few suggestions…
• On Church Street, Chandler House is one of Cape Town’s greatest accidental discoveries. Michael Chandler’s world is part gallery, part cabinet of curiosities, part design atelier. Antiques, textiles, artworks, homeware and whimsical objects mingle with his own distinctive illustrations of the city. It is the sort of shop where the boundaries between souvenir, artwork and personal talisman become pleasantly indistinct. Chandler himself describes the store as a place where he collaborates with South African artisans, and fills it with ‘whimsy’… an entirely appropriate philosophy.
• A little further into the CBD, Merchants On Long remains one of the most compelling addresses for contemporary African design. Its appeal lies in curation rather than clutter. Fashion, jewellery, beauty and objects from across the continent, all gathered under one roof. A compelling portfolio of Africa’s artisans, in all of its authenticity.
• The Heritage Shop, tucked inside the Company’s Garden, is a discreet historical cottage, offering beautifully made goods inspired by the Cape’s natural and cultural heritage.
• The Corner Store on Bree Street is another, more sensory encounter with Africa. Where all kinds of collectables from fashion to bespoke jewellery, travel accessories and African textiles adorn the shelves with an endearing story to tell. • For a more contemporary interpretation of African design, AAFRICAA – Contemporary African Fashion, Homeware and Gifts at the V&A Waterfront brings together established and emerging African designers, with ceramics, jewellery, textiles, clothing and signature pieces chosen for their craftsmanship and cultural depth.
• For something softer and more tactile, Mungo’s inner-city store offers beautifully woven natural-fibre textiles made at its mill in Plettenberg Bay, along the Garden Route. The sort of linen, towel or throw that acquires an entirely different significance once it has crossed an ocean with you.
• Quagga Rare Books & Art is a treasure trove of first-edition and novelty books, Africana, old maps and general objects and ephemera. This family-run business in the vibrant seaside village of Kalk Bay, has traded in the historic and the arcane, the dusty, musty and mysterious. From leather-bound tomes to centuries-old sea charts, paintings and peculiarities, Quagga is a delightful ramble through the myriad oddities Africa has to offer.
And perhaps that’s the real pleasure of shopping in Cape Town. You’re not just acquiring things, you’re also supporting a web of communities. You’re sourcing souvenirs that become part of how you remember the journey. Selecting particular items, objects and impressions to preserve. These kinds of gifts – whether intended for someone dear, or for yourself – tell a story about the person you became, when you were on that great adventure in the Mother City.
Labotessa…A Marvel in the Mother City
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