Nestled in the heart of Gqeberha, a family-operated enterprise radiates the spirit of regenerative design, crafting furnishings that foster positive change. Man + Wife, the brainchild of creative visionaries Bruce and Kimlyn Harbottle, aspires to improve lives with their conscientiously crafted pieces. “We envision our furniture as a catalyst for enhanced living, a deliberate choice propelling us towards a better existence,” the dynamic duo shares.
As ‘healthy’ furniture proponents, the Harbottles view their business as a wellness endeavour with a furniture-making facet rather than a traditional furniture company dabbling in low-impact design. Their creations are designed to promote well-being for individuals, families, communities, and the planet. They target forward-thinking individuals with an eye on the future for themselves, their offspring, and the world.
Regenerative design transcends the bounds of sustainable design, which primarily seeks to minimize ecological harm. Instead, the regenerative design aims to create a net positive impact on natural systems, harnessing the power of design to protect and restore the environment.
In the current design landscape, achieving complete regeneration may seem like a lofty goal. Still, Man + Wife focuses on cultivating local partnerships, securing low-impact materials, and honing their furniture-making prowess. Their long-term ambition is to establish a vertically integrated enterprise, exercising complete control over their supply chain, from farm to storefront.
Ecological Outcome Verification™ (EVO) is an outcome-driven protocol that assesses land regeneration based on various environmental indicators, including ground cover, water infiltration, biodiversity, soil carbon, and soil health. Though a nascent concept in South Africa, Man + Wife is committed to achieving EVO.
Their creations embody the essence of their locale, reimagining materials and their environmental and health impacts while prioritizing quality and longevity. Their designs are intended for repair, not replacement.
Materials employed in their range include locally sourced waste wool from Butterworth, replacing urethane foam; leather sourced from regenerative farms in Hogsback and tanned in Kariega (Uitenhage); and textiles crafted locally with a long-term goal of utilizing regenerative-certified wool. Felting consists of recycled fabric remnants, while upholstery fabric features a blend of local cotton and recyclable olefin fibres, with the alternative of material produced from recycled PET bottles.
The furniture’s internal frames are constructed from sustainable South African pine from Stutterheim and Hogsback, and hardwood detailing uses hard pear from responsibly managed indigenous forests. All wood is sourced from dead trees certified by SANParks and finished with natural linseed oils.
The Harbottles’ aspirations extend beyond their children, Noah and Michaela, as they strive to impact their community, country, and planet positively. Their dream is to transform their business into a furniture manufacturing hub, offering job opportunities, skills training, and education in the Eastern Cape, turning a region marked by poverty into a beacon of prosperity and wellness.
