Page 10 - Designing Ways 230

DESIGNER
PROFILE

Bench Mark - page 30 born and raised in Durban, KwaZulu-
Set to fly from the Kingdom in the Sky, Natal. But I am of Sotho origin, that is
Lesotho, to the rest of the world, Khosi where my grandparents are from. I often
Leteba’s beautiful, bodacious Bodulo visit my family in Lesotho and when I
Collection of furniture is bound to put started designing the collection, I was
this young creative on the map. Inspired inspired by Basotho culture.”
by the designer’s Sotho heritage, the The collection features a pattern that
collection celebrates different elements celebrates different elements of the
of the Basotho lifestyle and is a joyous Basotho lifestyle, while the curved shapes in the room just, kind of, you know, had
interpretation of Southern Africa’s vibrant of the furniture pieces hint at traditional the same response… gooseflesh. It was
visual language. homes. “I first translated the architecture amazing. The pieces are powerful, and
Leteba pitched his Bodulo Collection of their dwellings in the form of the pieces. they are complex. They tell a strong story
at the inaugural Clout Industry Days Then, I designed the pattern to tell the about Khosi’s love of Lesotho and his
Fired Up by Nando’s, which took place in story of the Basotho people, their culture heritage,” states Tracy Lynch, Creative
August 2019 at 100% Design South Africa, and agriculture through different visual Director of Clout, the Nando’s Design
and met with success. Both emerging elements, like the Bosotho hat, which is Programme.
and established designers across several called mogoro; the horse, which is a mode Since the pitch sessions, Clout has
disciplines were invited to pitch their of transport for the Basotho people; and worked with Leteba to identify which
ideas to a panel of judges comprising the landscape. Because Lesotho is known pieces could be brought to life. Leteba is
industry experts and the Nando’s design as the Kingdom in the Sky, I also included currently working in collaboration with
team. Leteba was chosen as one of the crops in the design, because agriculture is Clout and local South African designer
four winners and is currently included how many make their living,” he adds. Laurie Wiid Van Heerden on prototyping
in the Nando’s Business Development The collection blew the panel of judges select items in the collection. Watch this
Programme. away at the Clout Industry Days Fired Up space… dw
Speaking about the inspiration behind by Nando’s. “When Khosi presented, it was
the winning collection, he states: “I was one of those moments when everybody www.clout-sadesign.co.za

8 Issue 230 • dw