At Delaire Graff Estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa, two worlds of craftsmanship have come together: the considered design of David Collins Studio and the meticulous beadwork of Maasai women artisans from northern Tanzania.
Commissioned for Delaire Graff Estate's new Winery Building, Sidai Designs created two hand-beaded leather tabletops, each composed of more than 350,000 glass beads, for bespoke furniture pieces crafted by Hout Street Design Studios in Cape Town.
The process was both technical and deeply human. Four artisans worked collaboratively in Sidai’s Arusha workshop, adapting traditional Maasai beadwork techniques to a contemporary geometric pattern developed with the design team. The chosen aubergine tones mirror the depth and vibrancy of Delaire Graff Estate’s wine collection and the tactile richness of its interiors.
Precision was paramount. The use of dark leather required daylight work to protect the artisans’ eyesight, and every adjustment – from the stretch of the hide to the alignment of the pattern – was done entirely by hand. The result is a seamless translation of heritage craftsmanship into modern design: beadwork reimagined for a global luxury setting.
Now installed under glass within the Wine Lounge at Delaire Graff Estate, the tabletops form part of an interior defined by texture, restraint and material integrity.
“It is a real honour to have the Maasai women’s talented craft included within the project.”
— Roslyn Keet, Design Director, David Collins Studio
For Sidai and the artisans behind the work, the collaboration represents more than an income opportunity. It affirms heritage craft as fine design, where Maasai tradition sits confidently within one of South Africa’s most celebrated architectural spaces.
For partners each renowned for excellence in their fields, Sidai Designs, David Collins Studio, and Delaire Graff Estate are proud to share this meaningful collaboration, which reflects the beauty of craft at its highest level.
→ To explore partnership opportunities or commission custom beadwork for interiors, click here.
