The Hut by Neimil: The Stella Artois collaboration, reimagines a historically African structure in a collection that pays homage to the hands that created the culture
In a celebration of South African design and craftsmanship, design & lifestyle brand, Neimil, exhibited their extraordinary furniture collection, ‘The Hut’. In an outdoor setting at The View Hotel, the brand pays homage to African homes that have been an integral part of the country’s history and traditions.
In partnership with Stella Artois, inspired by hand-selected craftsmanship and influenced by the architectural, spiritual, and heritage elements of the hut, the exhibition is an extension of the first collaboration at Decorex in August 2022, during which designer, Keneilwe Mathoa, won the Decorex Young Designer Award 2022.
While the model seen at Decorex was a scaled down version, the full installation was built outdoors, to capture the meaning and idea behind the hut and the historical role it has played in the lives of young black South Africans. The collection featured some of the special chairs showcased at Decorex, along with new pieces such as an occasional hut chair, ceramics, footstools and more.
“Being such supporters of creative freedom in SA design, I am thrilled to have had Stella Artois collaborate with us in bringing The Hut to reality,” says designer and Neimil founder, Keneilwe Mathoa.
“The range extension is a step into the world of furniture for us and is about proving to ourselves that anything is achievable. We also hope to inspire some people who want to go into the industry and don’t know where to start, because everything begins with an idea and what you do with it is what counts.”
The design for the beautiful pieces is energized by fluid, circular elements and colour blocks, from sunset tones to prominent use of terracotta, nudes, creams, and mustards. A Stella Artois-inspired hut chair, meanwhile, has cooler pallets of greens, reds, and whites.
Founded by Keneilwe Mothoa and Lubabalo Mxalisa in 2018, Neimel’s philosophy is about sharing African authentic narratives through design, mainly in interior design, fashion, art and furniture, creating uniquely designed and hand-crafted pieces.
“Keneilwe is that rare breed of artist-designer. What we love about her most is that she creates narratives which provide space for us to find meaning in who we are. Through her approach to hand-selecting materials in her craft, Keneilwe’s designs are both authentic and beautiful. We are proud to have been able to collaborate with her in The Hut and to support the SA design industry in this way,” says Estee Burger, Marketing Manager, Stella Artois South Africa.
