The boys are back in town at Decorex

The old-fashioned, repressed, un-moisturised man has been banished to the hinterlands and a new breed has taken centre stage. From the eclectic to the contemporary, the Top Man feature will highlight spaces inspired by this man – ones that while still practical and sensible, are ultimately as far removed from the bland renditions relegated to catalogues, as it is possible to be.

One hundred percent ‘man made’, this exclusive feature will see four local male celebrities each paired with a prominent designer, who will interpret the former’s unique style in the definitive male space. The celebrities are:

• TV presenter, singer, voice-over artist, MC, model and actor, Katlego Maboe
• Four-time World Surfski Champion, entrepreneur and speaker, Dawid Mocke
• Design exhibition organiser, DJ, entrepreneur, vintage music fan and reality TV star, Travis Hyde
• Surfer Dene Botha, a model, entrepreneur, TV presenter and founder and MD of youth motivation platform, Pride Factor

While Dene Botha and Ma Maison’s designer Jann Cresswell-Turner are set to make a formidable Top Man team, Warisan’s solid wood tables and chairs will feature prominently in Maboe’s installation, as the Indonesian furniture company’s Matthew Bater has been paired with this well-known South African celebrity. “For Katlego, we’re going to create a stylish yet relaxing terrace area with our outdoor furnishings, tiles from Natural Stone Warehouse and a lush vertical garden,” explains Bater.

Appropriately, designer Jeanne-Louise Lamont who is partnering with Dawid Mocke, will draw on the colours of the ocean for her feature stand. “Dawid is a man of the sea and as such, requires a space that is calm and contemplative, simple, beautiful and robust,” she says, explaining that she’ll use furnishings crafted by Nic Kruger’s Knysna-based Shipwreck, a business that fashions unique pieces from salvaged boats.

Quanto Designs’ Ann Bottello, who is teaming up with Travis Hyde who, when he isn’t helping run some of the country’s top design exhibitions, spends his time searching for business opportunities around Cape Town. Quanto Designs, who has taken an industrial take on the steampunk theme who hints “Think an executive style office with steel-pipe and leather furnishings.”

The public and corporate proceeds from this installation will go to the charity of each celebrity’s choosing. Maboe has chosen HOPE Cape Town, which strives to improve the quality of life and full potential of children and families affected by HIV, Aids and related illnesses. Mocke has chosen God’s Little Lighthouse, a Fish Hoek Preschool, educating over 100 children whose parents cannot afford schooling. Hyde has chosen Greenpop, a charity that helps green urban areas and runs reforestation projects around Africa. Botha has chosen Dare to Share, an NPO started by a group of friends that has to date served over 200,000 meals and handed out over 14,000 blankets to those in need.

Visitors are invited to vote for their favourite ‘Top Man’ by completing an entry form and donating towards his chosen charity. By entering, a lucky visitor stands a chance to win Natural Stone Warehouse tiles to the value of R30,000.

For more information, go to www.decorex.co.za.