NEW YORK–Ngala Trading has added a new brand partner, Umdabu, to its assortment of sustainably and ethically sourced luxury African goods.
All Umdabu furnishings are 100% hand-made exclusively in Africa, incorporating natural wooden elements into contemporary designs. The Umdabu design process starts from a root or a natural wooden slab and ultimately becomes functional art.
Umdabu adds a sense of casual modernism to Ngala Trading and draws on the unique and natural beauty found locally in Johannesburg, South Africa, Ngala said.
“As we continue to expand our furniture range, we strive to offer a variety of styles commonly seen in contemporary African interior design,” said Lawson Ricketts, creative director and co-founder of the company. “Working with wood as a medium is very common across the continent and something that was lacking in our line. Visiting the Umdabu factory and seeing the talent of wood carving, hand weaving and wood turning sold me – the skill is truly remarkable.”
The introductory collection includes:
Che Chair – a minimalistic wooden dining chair inspired by early Cape Dutch furniture. It is simple, lightweight and strong, made from solid American oak with a woven corded seat, offered in two colorways: natural and black.
Imboko Chair– an occasional chair that blends a casual and modern safari aesthetic. An intersection of style and comfort, the chair’s oversized leather cushions rest on a solid American oak timber frame with an airy accent of woven cording on each side.
Nthatu Side Table – derived from the Zulu vocabulary meaning “three,” the Nthatu side table is a modern, contemporary design featuring a tripod of solid wooden legs beneath a South African-sourced granite top.
See also:
Want to work more with artisans? New York retailer Sarza has tips
