The Weylandts legacy stretches all the way to Namibia, where founder Chris Weylandt was born. Marking the launch of a new campaign, he journeys back to Namibia to honour the things that have influenced his story, beginning with a chair that once belonged to his father.
A well-told story’s power to captivate and inspire has been recognised for centuries. Stories are a way to connect with people and the world; it’s about identity, emotion and authenticity. For Chris Weylandt, founder and chief executive of Weylandts, one of South Africa’s leading homeware and furniture brands, it’s about going back to your roots and paying homage to your story.
In this new short film directed by Lebogang Rasethaba, Chris journeys back to Namibia, his place of birth, to honour the things that have influenced his story.
“The question is what shapes you?” says Chris. “For me, it starts with where you come from. The environment, the values you grow up with and the experiences that you have. And nature. Those are the key elements that shape me.” Inspired by the Namibian landscape, the video launches the first chapter of a new campaign with a design philosophy rooted in the environment.
While the Namibian landscape was a source of inspiration for the brand’s design philosophy, Chris and his family have become nomadic in their search for artisanal design, seeking out a global network of artisans and craftspeople who co-create the heirlooms of the future. For Chris, it’s about a design continuum, meticulous craftsmanship and a powerful connection to our natural environment. “There’s so much value when everything that is unnecessary is stripped away and elements are pared back to the essentials,” he says. “What’s left behind has to, therefore, be the best. That, to me, is good living.”
Excited about the concept of storytelling, Chris hopes to inspire others to do the same. “I believe that by sharing our stories with one another we can inspire better ways of living. [In this campaign] we invite people to join our journey and design their own story.”
