LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORY
Mash. T Design Studio, creating a contemporary craft-driven aesthetic for Africa
Thabisa Mjo is the founder and owner of Mash. T Design Studio in South Africa, a furniture and design studio with the main focus and philosophy to tell uniquely South African stories using the medium of design.
Lionesses of Africa found out more from founder Thabisa this month about her business and her incredible entrepreneurial journey to date.
In her attempt to gain access into the niche interior design market, Thabisa entered the 2015 Nando’s Hot Young Designer competition. Nando’s was looking for emerging creatives to design pendant lights. The winning light/s would be installed in Nando’s restaurants locally and internationally.
Thabisa says, “I had never designed anything before, but as a small business owner, I had learnt the importance of pivoting, the value of never second guessing yourself, and just going for it.”
Thabisa designed the now, winning, Tutu 2.0 light, which was inspired by xibelani skirts worn by Xitsonga women. She says, “When I first saw xibelani skirts, they reminded me of African tutus, hence the name Tutu 2.0. This light is now installed in restaurants all over the world, from Cape Town to Malaysia, Washington to London.”
In 2019, Thabisa was awarded South African Designer of the Year at the 100% Design SA.
About Mash. T Design Studio
Mash. T Design Studio is a South African furniture and design studio founded by Thabisa Mjo, with the main focus and philosophy to tell uniquely South African stories using the medium of design.
The Studio’s mission is focused on creating sustainable, economic opportunities for African creative makers through collaborative product design.
Mash. T Design Studio has showcased globally at exhibitions such as Milan Design Week 2019, 100% Design UK, and currently has products represented at the Bonne Esperance Gallery in Paris.
The Studio is leading the charge to create a contemporary craft-driven aesthetic for Africa and by doing so has collaborated with craft makers such as the world renowned master weaver, Beauty Ngxongo, Qaqambile Bead Studio - a South African fine art beading studio, and multi-award winning furniture brand Houtlander.
Read more about Thabisa Mjo and Mash. T Design Studio on Lionesses of Africa:
Thabisa Mjo - The startup story of a talented creative entrepreneur with an eye on building an exciting new lifestyle brand in Africa - Lionesses of Africa
Interior design company, Mash.T Design Studio , is on a mission - to create beautiful spaces. Inspired by its creative founder, Thabisa Mjo, the company prides itself by continuously providing its clients with highly creative solutions to their spatial challenges. The company is constantly
LIONESS CoLAB: Mash T Design Studio X Karingana wa Karingana Textiles - Lionesses of Africa
A shared love of cutting edge design and contemporary African textiles led to a recent collaboration between multi-award winning South African design entrepreneur, Thabisa Mjo, founder of Mash T Design Studio, and creative Mozambican textile designer, Wacy Zacarias, founder of Karingana wa
Contact or follow Mash T. Design Studio
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL thabisa@mashtdesignstudio.com
