GUILD, Africa's international design fair, returns to Cape Town

Having attracted worldwide acclaim and over 8500 visitors during the inaugural fair in early 2014, it returns with more designer influence in 2015, an extraordinary legacy for World Design Capital Cape Town.

Continuing the legacy, the theme of designer-maker and global exchange will be the primary focus, with collaborations already taking place between visiting galleries, celebrated design stars and South African design studios. International designers are travelling to Cape Town in the months before the fair, and dynamic new works are being crafted to launch first at GUILD 2015, before showcasing at other international design fairs and exhibitions.

International influence

Renowned New York gallery R & Company returns for a second year, with the legendary LA-based Haas Brothers premiering their new locally produced collection at GUILD. 'Afreaks', a collaboration with South Africa's master beading company Monkeybiz and Bronze Age Foundry, comprises overscaled fantasy animal-like forms named satirically after celebrities, like Tail-lor Swift and Al Gor-illa, with giant 2.5-metre mushrooms setting the Afreaka landscape. This collaboration will have a significant impact for the global profile of these local companies.

Carwan Gallery from Beirut, Lebanon, will also be in attendance, showcasing the works created by Lebanese siblings Mary-Lynn and Carlo Massoud, who are collaborating as artists for the first time, while simultaneously joining forces with Capetonian ceramicists and metal workers for this body of work.

GUILD 2014 top-seller Coletivo Amor de Madre from Brazil will also return with new works to show South African fans, while acclaimed furniture producer Peter Mabeo from Botswana will exhibit in SA for the first time. A 'Best of British' collection will be curated by highly esteemed design journalist and author Helen Chislett, founder of London Connoisseur, and will include the trailblazing works of Studio Swine. South Africa's own Southern Guild - the gallery behind GUILD - will continue breaking new ground by introducing the public to the most exciting collectible design that their country has to offer.

Guest designers Frederik Molenschot of Studio Molen and Tom Price will be in attendance, and additional designers and galleries will be revealed on the GUILD website over the coming weeks.

Awards at GUILD

This year the gallery store ARTISAN will be presented by Watershed, the V&A Waterfront's new platform for the best of South African design and craft, and the Southern Guild Design Foundation Awards, responsible for revolutionising the local design industry, will be presented at GUILD too, making it the first time that this much-anticipated ceremony is held in Cape Town.

Guided tours by Fair Director Trevyn McGowan, a world-class talks' programme, school tours and an evening schedule of special events will be offered to fair visitors, who will have the opportunity to enjoy a drink and meal on The Lookout deck pre- and post-fair viewing.

For more information go to www.guilddesignfair.com.

View the GUILD 2014 film

GUILD Design Fair, Cape Town from southern guild on Vimeo.