The Folklore 50 Africa: 5 Brands Reimagining African Interiors

In homes, studios, and galleries across Africa, a new class of interior designers and makers is shaping the way we live, rest, and express ourselves. Through furniture, textiles, ceramics, and scent, these women-led brands are crafting spaces that are as thoughtful as they are beautiful — redefining the meaning of home through intentional design.

As part of The Folklore 50 Africa, we’re honoring five interior creatives whose work blends aesthetic excellence with cultural narrative. From minimalist architecture in Lagos to small-batch ceramics in Cape Town and slow textiles in Johannesburg, these visionaries are designing for how we feel — not just how things look.

Leonie Badger – Founder, Studio Badge (Ghana)

Clean lines. Bold curves. A sense of calm. Studio Badge, founded by Leonie Badger, crafts minimalist wood furniture and interior objects that feel both rooted and refined. Based in Accra, the studio’s designs draw inspiration from West African heritage while embracing a global, contemporary aesthetic. Leonie’s approach is about balance — simplicity with presence, structure with soul.

Saïda Kadiri – Founder, Côté Bougie Marrakech (Morocco)

Fragrance meets design in Côté Bougie Marrakech, the luxury candle brand founded by Saïda Kadiri. Each scent is handcrafted in Morocco, blending artisanal methods with contemporary packaging inspired by Berber motifs and Moroccan architecture. From fig to amber, every candle evokes a mood, a memory, a place. Saïda’s brand has helped put North African home fragrance on the international radar — one flicker at a time.

Zydia Botes & Carla Pinto – Co-Founders, Something Good Studio (South Africa)

Something Good Studio is exactly that — good design, grounded in collaboration and care. Led by Zydia Botes and Carla Pinto, the South African brand partners with local artists to create limited-run textiles, including jacquard throws, upholstery, and art-led interior goods. Each collection is made slowly and thoughtfully, celebrating both creative community and a commitment to sustainable production.

Tosin Oshinowo – Founder, ile ila (Nigeria)

As an architect and designer, Tosin Oshinowo brings cultural depth to every project she touches. Her furniture brand, ile ila (which means "House of Lines" in Yoruba), transforms Nigerian Aso Oke fabric into sculptural, colorful chairs that celebrate heritage in form and function. More than décor, each piece is a statement, a reclaiming of tradition and modernity in one beautifully crafted frame.

Jade Paton – Founder, Jade Paton Ceramics (South Africa)

Jade Paton’s ceramic vessels are more than functional objects — they’re portals of texture, shape, and quiet beauty. Working out of Cape Town, she hand-builds each piece with organic imperfections and soft-toned glazes that evoke a lived-in sense of elegance. Her work has found its way into carefully curated spaces around the continent, offering a grounded, slow-living sensibility that invites reflection and rest.

Why Their Work Matters

In a world overwhelmed by fast interiors and mass-made home goods, these designers are choosing intention over trend. Their work reminds us that our spaces can be both functional and soulful expressions of where we come from, how we live, and who we’re becoming.

The Folklore is proud to honor these creatives — and to spotlight the beauty of spaces made with care, culture, and craft.