THE BUSINESS OF DESIGN

Meet the industry leaders behind the innovative, sustainable brands taking Africa to the world – and empowering others to follow in their footsteps

- SHANNON MANUEL, THOBEKA PHANYEKO AND PIET SMEDY

Your career trajectory has been unusual.

After qualifying as a chemical engineer and working for a few years, I realised I no longer found it fulfilling, so I decided to resign to pursue my passion for flying. But aviation training is expensive, so I needed to find ways to make money to complete the programme. Starting a business seemed the next logical step.

At the time, I was busy with a DIY project, teaching myself to upholster a chair by watching YouTube videos. I figured I could combine my natural flair for design and beautiful spaces with online learning to set up a furniture company that could help me pay for my pilot’s licence. Once my business took off, I realised I had found a second passion, and I have not looked back since.

What inspired you to start Timeless Opulence?

I started the business back in 2015 to fund my aviation career, but, to be honest, it has grown far beyond my expectations. We started manufacturing in a garage for a small client base and, before we knew it, word had spread about the pieces we were producing, and we had to move to bigger premises to keep up with the demand. The name Timeless Opulence sums up what we set out to achieve with our products: to provide bespoke furniture that is timeless and beyond trends.

The business has evolved to include three divisions: furniture manufacturing, interior design and events management. Today, we employ 12 people and, in addition to our private clients, we work with architects, developers, hotels and corporations.

How are you, as a woman, shaping design?