African Designers Forging New Paths in Interior Design

Following over ten years practicing law at prominent banking institutions such as Goldman Sachs and Société Générale, Nigerian-British Kelechi Ejikeme departed the corporate sector to pursue her enthusiasm for interior design. Her rug collection draws inspiration from Nigeria’s varied landscapes—rolling hills, winding rivers, expansive savannahs, and dense forests—evoking aerial perspectives. “So, when you interpret that into a rug or a carpet, it’s symbolic,” she stated during an interview at her exhibit booth at the Decorex interior design show, which took place in London last month. “It’s like, every minute, this is what we’re actually every day stepping on.” Crafted from jute, a resilient and environmentally friendly material, every rug incorporates these organic components. Locally, jute is commonly grown for its edible foliage rather than its fibers. This plant is also the source of ewedu soup, a traditional dish in south-western Nigeria. To realize her concept, Ejikeme arranges for her rugs to be manufactured in India and Nepal, regions where jute processing has evolved into a robust industry. Also present at the gathering was Amechi Mandi, a Cameroonian-Nigerian interior designer recognized with House & Garden magazine’s Rising Star award in 2022. He did not display any of his creations but had recently delivered a presentation in a concurrent session regarding his shift from the fashion industry to interior design. Mandi possesses a degree in furniture and