Well, that's a wrap! And what a year it was!
December 2, 2020

Still here after one helluva year!


This is our last blog for 2020 so it's giving us the chance to look back at this year of years - an annus horribilis to end them all, the mother of all bum years and the queen of calamity. Which means in our books that 2021 is going to be an annus mirabilis with lots of great things waiting just around the corner.


There was a point this year when we thought it was going to get the better of us. We started the year with a BIG plan - the evolution from Darkie Designs to a new brand, a fresh start, a clean slate... a new beginning. We unveiled our new name - Kuku - to a waiting world, opened our reimagined showroom and were packing to go to Morocco on our first, official buying trip under the Kuku label and WHAM! BAM! No thank you, ma'am... the dreaded C-word hit us and lockdown came into effect...


But hey, we're big girls, and we pulled our big girl pants on and after the initial shock and disbelief wore off we got to work, finding ways to make it through the wilderness (no, we're not about to launch into a cover of "Like a Virgin"... just borrowing from Madge!). We whipped up a few hundred masks (the fashion item of the year) and used the time to slim things down, cutting the mess and excess by taking our separate office and workshop and reintroducing it to the showroom, amalgamating everything into one venue.


Because we were manufacturing, we never had to fully close our doors, and quietly got on with things in the background while the world around us changed so drastically we wondered if things would ever be the same. One thing got us through all of this chaos - you - our valued clients, friends and supporters. And our families, of course. We would not be here without you. So big Kuku virtual hugs to each and every one of you for believing in us and for being there for us. 


By the time our wonderful little town was fully open and returning to somewhere approaching normal rhythms (but without the steady flow of tourists we are used to) we were a lean, mean, mad machine with our workshop at the rear of our showroom churning out our usual range of services, from upholstery and curtains to scatter cushions and blinds... And we were back with our usual procurement services locating and delivering incredible furniture, décor items, objets d'art and hand-made African artisanal pieces from across the Dark Continent... 


We also ventured into the virtual shopping world with our "Africa Unboxed" range, working with the uber-talented Christie Morgan of High Tea With Elephants.


So, here we are, counting down the remaining days of 2020. Still here. Still loving what we do. And absolutely blessed to be here doing it, all things considered. We're looking forward to what 2021 will bring, staying positive and looking forward to building on everything we've learned about ourselves this year. 


The new year is going to start with a bang as we branch out into new territory, thanks to being given a new challenge as the local Greater Kruger agents for legendary canvas and tent manufacturers Bushtec Safari! We're absolutely delighted to be working with such an incredible brand and representing them here in South Africa's safari capital! And their safari tents are just fabulous, so check them out!


Watch this space and our social media pages for more details!


All that's left to say is a HUGE "thank you" to everyone out there for believing in us and continuing to support us through thick and thin. We'll be closing up for the holidays very soon, so have a blessed festive season and we'll see you all next year!


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By Kyra Harper August 15, 2023
Back in March of 2020, Bianca and Jana were dusting off their Fez’s and grabbing the pashminas out of storage in preparation to Rock the Casbah! However, as we all know and vividly remember - with March, came the eventual Covid shutdown, and instead of frolicking down the Moroccan streets, we all shut ourselves inside and watched the days tick by… 3 Years later, and now we can finally say - with conviction - that they’re going to Morocco at the start of September! This blog, filled with excitement and curiosity about all the weird and wonderful curios they might find, and endless sourcing they’ll do, stays as a reminder that sometimes plans change, things go awry and there’s not much you can do about it other than persevere - and that we did! So, here’s Bianca and Jana’s innermost thoughts about the trip, 3 years before it came to fruition, enjoy :) We've got our passports out and Jana has already picked out what she's going to wear each day… Come March [September] we'll be heading north with Air France to the Kingdom of Morocco, bright eyed and bushy tailed as we make our base in the ancient city of Marrakesh (also known as Marrakech to the French, but we're not French, so we'll go with the English version until all that fuss about Brexit is sorted out) - This turned into a year long negotiations trade, and now us outsiders would pay nearly double what we used to if we visit the UK - thankfully our flight is direct!! We'll be looking for inspiration and will be investigating what's there that we could possibly bring back to The Hoed. We can't wait to experience the atmosphere and afro-arabic influences of this amazing place as we visit the celebrated souks and off-the-beaten track artists and craftsmen that make Marrakesh so special. We're desperate to see the beautifully hand-crafted furniture, textiles, fabrics, rugs, carpets, objets d'art, accessories, lighting… anything that catches our eye and could possibly be brought back south. Berber mats and rugs are definitely on our list, as are the kind of furnishings you might find in a gorgeous Bedouin tent. If you think about it, the Bedouin refined the art of "glamping" into an artform - fabulous carpets on the ground, soft, billowing fabrics hung here and there, plump cushions spread on the ground, intricate leatherwork and carved wood, patinated metal… Total Glamping vibes! We just love all of it and will be tracking as much of it down as we can. We'll also have an eye or three out for wonderful ceramics and glassware and wonderful lamps that give off soft, filtered light.  For us it's about workmanship, so we'll hopefully be finding the people who make furniture and ceramics using techniques that have been passed down over countless generations meaning that everything we look at will have its own, and its own special story. Our mission is to share those stories with you and, if it's feasible, bring some of that special workmanship home to the Rainbow Nation. We're most definitely inspired and are sure this is going to be a truly special trip! Counting the sleeps till then! Less than a month to go now - we will be keeping the updates going on our social channels as well as another few blog posts to explain in detail our wild adventures - Stay tuned!
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By Kyra Harper August 15, 2023
A safari theme never really runs out of viewing time and is particularly popular for interiors at the moment. The warm, earthy tones give a sense of comfort and the accessories offer the anticipation of travel and adventure.
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Stay protected from mosquitoes with top quality mosquito nets. Buy online in South Africa for the best deals. Shop now and sleep peacefully.
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