Maison & Objet 2011 with Mohair South Africa and Li Edelkoort

We cannot wait until Maison & Objet begins, a few Coral Stephens products will be represented on this prominent stage, curated on a stand by Li Edelkoort.   It gives us exposure and association which are not usually within our reach (we do not have the budget or frankly, the where with all to do a Maison type show) and thanks to the efforts of Mohair South Africa and the admiration of our product by Li, we are being pushed right to the front.  In fact we even grace the cover of the stand’s invitation to the show. 

I remember buying a ticket to go and hear Li talk at a trend presentation in Johannesburg a few years ago.  I was captivated by her talk, her sombre confidence and her severe and pared down appearance.  A slicked back hair style, pale, smooth complexion with a slash of bright red lipstick, dressed in a flowing, silk Japanese style dress – she embodies a functional simplicity and is direct, stylish and honest.  The Johannesburg crowd with their bouffants, clinking gold bracelets and trophy handbags were not sure what to make of her, nor was I.  However, I met Li again a few years later at the Mohair Summit in 2009 held in Graaff Reniet.  She did a presentation to a primarily agricultural crowd, (Eastern Cape farmers) where trend forecasting would have been a fairly new concept.  Everyone was entranced.  The following day she offered me a lift in her aeroplane which was going in my direction.  Sadly, I had to decline, I had to drive back home to Swaziland (1,100km) which I did over two days.  I thought a lot about what she had said, her stylish photographs that accompany the presentation and admired her unflappable, serene manner.  With her there is no room for the superfluous, for indecision or doubt.  We can all learn from that.