Mungo Joburg Re-stored

Our shop in Johannesburg has come a long way since starting out as a pop-up two and a half years ago! Situated downtown in the city’s Milpark area, 44 Stanley is a creative hub made up of a discerningly curated collective of office spaces, eateries and a plethora of specialty stores ranging from second-hand books, to decor and fashion.

44 Stanley is often described as one of Joburg’s ‘hidden gems’ and an alternative to the massive shopping malls that are so pervasive in this city. All of the vendors at 44 Stanley are nestled between the leafy alleyways and courtyards of what were once a couple of industrial buildings back in the 1930s. Paying homage to these humble origins are the face brick façades and labyrinths of black metal staircases overhead.

We have loved being a part of such a creative community of traders, and are in good company alongside some other inspiring, independent stores.

The past few months, we’ve been busy refurbishing our 44 Stanley store. It’s been a work in progress, under the direction of our retail manager Cherilee Windvogel.

Inspired by 44 Stanley’s industrial feel, we kept our existing mottled screed floor as our (literal) foundation. Our display of old loom cogs on the wall is echoed by a pair of minimalist, wooden mirrors, which cleverly fit into each other and tie in nicely with the simple wood and grey steel shelves lining the walls. Each of the modular units was custom-designed to perfectly frame our display of fine woven textiles.

High white wooden ceilings and exposed beams give the relatively small space a light and airy feel. We’ve suspended a few kokedamas in the window to add some greenery. But pride of place definitely goes to the beautiful, retrofitted butlers sink, which some of you might recognise from our stand at the Handmade Contemporary Fair last year, encouraging our customers to have a sensory in-store experience by testing out the absorbency of our towels.

We couldn’t be prouder of our small shop’s big transformation, or happier to call 44 Stanley our Joburg home. But don’t take our word for it – next time you’re in the neighbourhood be sure to come visit and see for yourself.