Feature on Creative – Meet Brigitte Laurent

Brigitte got in touch with me a few months ago and asked if i’d like to see her range of products. We made a date and I set some time aside to view Brigitte’s range.  I loved Brigitte’s concept of reusing and recycling.  The intricate designs she drills into a piece of plumbing pipe were very pretty!!  The carefully drilled holes create beautiful patterns and a tea light popped inside make the prettiest candle holder.

We discussed designs and settled on dandelions, decided on simple packaging, and she set to work! I thought this would be a difficult product to sell as it needs the darkness to really show the full effect of the candle light glowing through the teeny holes … but we sold out so quickly! Brigitte will be delivering new stock soon!

Brigitte also make a range of wall lights and lamps – how pretty are these?!

We asked Brigitte some questions as part of our ‘Feature on Creative’ series…  to find out more about Brigitte grab a cuppa and have a read…

1// How did your business begin? When / where / how did it all start?
It started a year after finishing my Fine Art diploma, I had the chance to showcase a cardboard chandelier at Cape Town Design Indaba in 2009. On my way I took some time off on a farm in Plettenberg Bay trying to decide what I wanted to do next. Using found materials in my work is what I decided and what I have wanted to do since then. I was lucky enough to have good friends who have always encouraged me to take what I do further.

2// Why do you do what you do?
I do what I do to show that we can recycle and upcycle in new and exciting ways, and that it can be very stylish and elegant without looking like a re-purposed item. I like to show that sustainable living can be a trendy item in our homes. I get so much enjoyment out of seeing my lights in people’s homes that makes them happy.

3// When you were younger what did you want to be when you grew up?!
I have always wanted to be an artist since I was very young, there was nothing else other than wanting to be a creative person.

4// What inspires you when designing new products?
Anything really, travelling to new places, the feel of a city or a town and people. Sitting in my garden and creating from there is where I pick up lots of my designs from nature.

5// What are your hopes and dreams for your products?
I would really like to grow my range to larger scale chandeliers and do more custom made orders.

6// What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learnt so far in your business journey?
To take note of what advice people give you who are in a similar industry. No matter how small it can be, as that can really save you a lot of time and money wasted. And not to be afraid to put yourself and your work out there.

7// Why should our customers buy your products?
I think if you believe in finding sustainable ways of living then having art that lives by that same principle one would appreciate and find enjoyment out of my products.

8// What’s your favourite product from your line?
That would have to be a once off design I did of a skeleton leaf from my garden. It was very intricate work which I would love to make more of one day.

9// About you? What’s your – Top Song? Top Food? Top beverage? Top Place? Top movie?
Top song: Lumineers- “Big Parade”and pretty much anything by Lumineers.
Top Food: Thai Food
Top Place: Montague in Western Cape
Top movie: Into the Wild
Top Beverage: Wine

10// And lastly imagine you are heading out for dinner with a bunch of creative geniuses – who would be sitting around the table with you?
Definitely Jay Alders, Hannah Nunn, Katie Thompson from Recreate are some of the few that stick out.