Out Of Africa

Based in South Africa, Mungo is a homeware textile company that creates heirloom-quality woven goods. Decades since they first opened in a local dairy building, they’ve moved into their new custom-built mill in Old Nick Village, where Polly Leonard caught up with them after the big move.

You're referring to the new mill as a showcase of transparent production. How does the building merge pre-industrial methods with present-day technology?

Production at the Mill combines antique looms from the pre-industrial revolution with looms made in the early eighties. Technology progression is fascinating to see in action. In five to ten years we'll look at modernising equipment and programming further, but there are definite benefits to holding on to the older machines.

For one, the technology is simpler and can be more cost-effective. The ethos behind using looms that would have been sold for scrap to is something we align with greatly. On the downside, the older equipment tends to break down and become unreliable. We're ensuring that the skill set doesn't die off with the people who know how to run the old looms. The transfer of these skills is very important and an art in itself.

Talk us through your design process with architect Andrea Cristoforetti...

The process happened around Andrea's kitchen counter. He has collected a lot of architectural books over the years and he translated his vision through images and references. We refined the design over a number of meetings and bottles of Castle Milk Stout. With Andrea being Italian there was also delicious parmesan cheese and excellent balsamic vinegar thrown in for good measure. It was a very charming process.

What materials and noteworthy design elements are showcased in the build?

The external skin and the arches. The face brick detail achieved by our builder is also remarkable. We used local materials when possible, including bricks made 20km away and timber from the pine forests between George and Knysna. I'm a carpenter and cabinet maker by trade, so I have an understanding and love of wood. My personal aesthetic leans towards leaving the product untreated to weather naturally, bleaching over time to create more dimension. The wooden floors have been varnished inside to keep them from becoming very dirty, but even there we opted for a very soft finish.