Decorex Africa 2025:Duo Alan Hayward and Garreth van Niekerk a new era – FASHION FORCE AFRICA MAG

Decorex Africa, the continent’s premier design and decor showcase, welcomes a dynamic new leadership team! Alan Hayward and Garreth van Niekerk bring fresh perspectives and a commitment to highlighting African design talent on a global stage. Discover their vision for Decorex Africa 2025 and how they plan to transform the event into a hub of innovation and inspiration.

A New Era Dawns for Decorex Africa with Dynamic Duo at the Helm

Decorex Africa 2025: A Transformative Hub for Design

Embracing the Virtual World and Sustainability at Decorex Africa 2025

Get ready for a design revolution! Decorex Africa, the continent’s leading design and decor showcase, has appointed a powerhouse duo to lead the 2025 editions in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Stepping into the role of joint Executive Creative Directors are Alan Hayward and Garreth van Niekerk, two individuals brimming with creative energy and a passion for African design.

Hayward and Van Niekerk share a bold vision: to catapult Decorex Africa to even greater heights by putting the spotlight on Africa’s vibrant design scene. Through immersive exhibitions, strategic international partnerships, and inspiring collaborations, they aim to connect African design talent with a global audience and South Africa’s established design industry players.

Under their leadership, Decorex Africa 2025 promises to be more than just a showcase; it will be a transformative hub for design innovation, collaboration, and inspiration. Carol Weaving, Managing Director of RX Africa, the show organizers, expressed her excitement: “Garreth and Alan are bringing fresh vision and energy to our team, setting the stage for an incredible year in 2025.”

While keeping some surprises under wraps, Van Niekerk has shed light on some exciting plans. Visitors can expect brand new African Design pavilions and curated “Best Of” exhibitions featuring top-tier works from across the globe. These curated spaces will be designed to foster cross-continental dialogue and ignite creative exchange.

Decorex Africa 2025 isn’t afraid to embrace the digital revolution. Expect to see dedicated spaces exploring the role of interior design in virtual worlds, capturing the growing influence of digital art and design on our real-life experiences. Sustainability will also be a key theme, with new programming highlighting how sustainable design practices are reshaping our relationship with nature

Hayward and Van Niekerk recently travelled across Africa for their latest project, Capitec handmadeAFRICA. This journey exposed them to a burgeoning wave of talented African designers, and they aim to position Decorex Africa as a platform to showcase their work. “We encountered designers who are reinvigorating the global design conversation with fresh, fun, and fabulous work,” Hayward enthuses. “We want to bring some of that energy to Decorex Africa 2025, offering local audiences a chance to discover new perspectives and ideas for their own spaces.”

With a background in both design and business, Hayward and Van Niekerk plan to challenge traditional boundaries at Decorex Africa. They aim to “reconnect design disciplines at Decorex, blurring the lines of what design can be.” This approach aims to showcase design as a bridge that connects cultures, explores African craftsmanship, and elevates it to a global stage.

Hayward’s creative vision is matched by his business acumen, honed through his role as Marketing and Programmes Director of the Inside Out Centre for the Arts and Lead Buyer for Capitec handmadeAFRICA. Van Niekerk, a “creative force” in his own right, brings a background in retail, writing, and art curation. His experience as Creative Director of Capitec handmadeAFRICA has seen him connect the work of hundreds of African designers with a global audience.

With their combined expertise, Hayward and Van Niekerk promise to transform Decorex Africa 2025 into a celebration of African design on the world stage. By connecting diverse audiences and highlighting the continent’s design innovation, they aim to solidify Decorex Africa’s position as a leading force in the global design landscape. One thing’s for sure: Decorex Africa 2025 is an event not to be missed!