Martin, a furniture designer from Cape Town, weaves elements of South African vernacular crafts and traditions into contemporary designs with his new range of chairs – 'Zulu Mama' and the 'Reempee' collection.

Martin is a man on a mission. "I create contemporary furniture that gives us a sense of belonging to our world and the times we live in. I strive to do this with as much integrity and humanity as possible."

The result is strong, individual pieces that marry modern values of simplicity and lightness with a uniquely South African quality.

Woven into Zulu Mama is Martin's own inner strivings. "Zulu Mama is an expression of my current internal journey, the harmonious integration of opposites. A marriage between the feminine, woven, egg-shaped form and the masculine, stainless steel frame providing a solid, enduring structure."

During the design stage Martin travelled across rural South Africa, exploring the rich tradition of weaving, and collecting hand woven baskets.

"The indigenous spiralled coil baskets are ideal at creating the rounded organic forms that I was looking for in a comfortable seat," he says, adding: "the baskets also express the archetypal activity of gathering and holding, appropriate gestures for seating."

But it's not just the design and the melding of traditional and modern that make the chairs unique. He's also working with local communities to source the materials for his designs.

The seats are woven by women from rural areas and townships with fabric derived from recycled polyethylene milk bottles.

Haldan's 'Reempee' continues the tradition of borrowing and reinventing, replacing traditional leather riempies with recycled plastic in bold colours.

Haldane Martin will share his views on how designers can contribute towards a socially, environmentally and economically sustainable future at the Decorex Cape Talk Show, April 29 at the CTICC

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