Modern Gesture Designs
What does your company do?
Modern Gesture designs and produces lighting and homeware pieces in Cape Town, exploring different production techniques and craft skills, which includes experimentation with the physical and tactile properties of mixed mediums such as off cuts of wood, wax cord and various metals.Modern Gesture believes that in each piece created a story is embedded into its materials, capturing the time and care engaged in the creation of each item. This practice ensures that each piece holds its own unique characteristics. Each product is hand crafted to engage our attention through the use of materials, shape and final design, allowing for a new approach to quality, innovative design and simplicity, but still holds an international appeal without losing its local relevance and sentiments.
What is your biggest success?
To be able to operate a small business within my community that involves my parents in the
day-to-day business operations as well as being able to employ people in my community. Over
the years I’ve been able to build relationships with a few local brands such as Sanlam,
Heineken (Sol), V&A Waterfront and Nando’s. In 2018 I was awarded Woman Of The Year
by Glamour magazine for Art and Design. Our Woven Pendants were featured in the block
Buster Marvel movie Black Panther-Wakanda Forever in 2022. Having established healthy
business relationships with local and international clients has afforded me to export around
the world and gain more visibility through traveling opportunities. I started Modern Gesture
at university in 2011 and went into running it full time in 2015/16. Looking back over the years, my greatest achievement is being able to do what I love full time.
What has been your biggest hurdle?
One of my biggest hurdles has been looking after my health through the ups and downs of
operating a business. When starting Modern Gesture I wore all the hats needed to run the
business successfully. As the business grew I employed 2 staff members to help with the
work load. Through the pandemic in 2020, many new and difficult challenges arose,
e.g. mental health challenges that affected my ability to design, in keeping the business
sustainable. As a female business owner, it has been a big learning curve in finding balance between
work and managing my health after COVID. The setting of healthy boundaries in the work
environment and my personal life became an imperative factor. Being aware of how things
can change on a global scale, and learning to navigate the change, to adapt, become
innovative, resilient and persevere has made me a stronger and a wiser business woman.
