00:01In a market often dominated by international styles, can furniture truly speak of heritage and identity?
00:08My furniture mostly speaks to people who are into collectible pieces and art pieces,
00:13but mostly it's just about, you know, telling the African story through furniture design
00:19and that's why I mostly use African patterns.
00:24Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sipo's journey to becoming a celebrated furniture designer is one of self-made success.
00:32But before he was designing with a workshop, he was a taxi driver and his vision was very clear.
00:38So my sister was applying for learnerships and then she came across a post from Ferntec,
00:46which they were actually looking for people who might be interested in learning basic carpentry.
00:54And there was a stipend, you know, so when I looked at the stipend which you get every Friday
00:59and I looked at the money I was making as a taxi driver, I was like,
01:03okay, let me take this for now, you know, meanwhile I look for a proper job.
01:08So this piece, I was collaborating with a designer called Sir Abner, he's a fashion designer.
01:15So this is my umma ma'estalo, it was a way of us sort of like, you know, showing appreciation
01:20for African design.
01:22So for Foma Stalisane, obviously relates to my story as a taxi driver.
01:29Sipo's pursuit of excellence led him to apprentice with experienced furniture maker David Cranow.
01:35After his hands-on training, he faced the next challenge,
01:38how to evolve his technical skills to a new level and elevate his designs.
01:45He was doing some really, really crazy cool things, you know.
01:50Things that I even didn't know were possible.
01:53Because I only saw them on TV, you know, I was like,
01:56there's no way there's a person who's doing this here in Jovo, you know.
02:00Whilst I was still working for David, he had a team of interior architects and industrial designers.
02:08So when I got exposed to, I saw these softwares they were using,
02:13then I started going online and I went on to YouTube and started watching tutorials on how to use Inventor
02:22CAD.
02:24His breakthrough came when he mastered modern technology, enabling him to develop his own unique style.
02:30It changed everything, giving him the skill and precision to expand his design philosophy.
02:40It's like Thanos with all five infinity stones, you know, like, I know how to design and I know how
02:46to manufacture.
02:47Whereas most people, it's like, they only know how to design, they don't know how to manufacture,
02:51they outsource the manufacturing.
02:52And then you'd find that manufacturers, some manufacturers don't know how to design.
02:58What we're building here is the Basutu Ottoman.
03:01With my furniture, I'm not just inspired by just only one culture.
03:05I'm inspired by all kinds of cultures.
03:08That's why I have pieces which are inspired by the Zonga culture.
03:12I have pieces which are inspired by the Swati culture, the Devede culture.
03:16Sipo is a kind guy.
03:18He's talking and then each and every time he just shows me and then he calls me.
03:26This is how you know how to do this.
03:28And then I will tell him, dude, I don't know how to assemble.
03:32So you are the one who's assembling.
03:35And then he always tell me, because now I know how to assemble.
03:38You don't know how to assemble.
03:40I will give you the things you will assemble by yourself.
03:43Because by the end of the day, when I go here, you have to, I have to leave you with
03:48the skill.
03:50The impact of Sipo's work extends beyond his workshop.
03:54Every pattern carries memory.
03:56Just as interaction, initially I bought coasters from him.
03:59And with those coasters, they were quite unique.
04:01So that being said, I wanted to actually learn more about the kind of furniture that he actually designs.
04:07And when I got to see his Instagram page and everything that he's actually done, I was actually quite impressed.
04:13And that actually made me want to actually get even more stuff from him.
04:17I feel like the thing that draws people to my work, I think, it's uniqueness, you know.
04:23And I always try my best not to replicate from other designers.
04:27I'm not saying other designers don't inspire me, they do.
04:30But I always make sure that I don't replicate anyone's work.
04:36From his start as a taxi driver to founder of his own unique brand, Sipo Twala has not only created
04:43beautiful pieces, but also path from self and legacy for his culture.
04:48And I'll see you in the next video.
04:53I'll see you in the next video.
04:57Bye.
04:57Bye.
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