Cape Town, but make it design-forward. That’s the spirit behind the new My Mother City collection from Cara Saven Décor – a playful, personality-filled tableware range that captures the details locals quietly love.
Dreamed up over long, easy summer days, the collection is a collaboration between Cara Saven, artist Michal Turner and creative collaborator Lise van Schoor. Instead of the usual postcard icons, think insider references: bagels from Kleinsky’s, takeaway coffees from neighbourhood favourites, sticky-sweet granadilla lollies on the beach, and the unmistakable sight of a Fieldbar at sunset. It’s Cape Town through a hyper-local lens – quirky, nostalgic and instantly recognisable if you know, you know.
Rather than acting as a guidebook, My Mother City is a layered collage of moments, memories and design details that feel both deeply personal and surprisingly universal. The result is tableware that travels well, but always carries a little piece of the city with it.
The collection also reflects Cara Saven Décor’s commitment to thoughtful production. Each piece is made locally in South Africa, designed to be spill-safe, easy-care and fully washable, and printed to order to minimise waste. It’s practical, yes – but never at the expense of personality.
Behind the scenes, the trio bring their own distinct energy. Cara, known for her bold use of colour, has built her brand into a household name in wallcoverings and décor. Michal balances a full-time career in marketing with her artistic practice (and can apparently play Christmas carols on the trumpet). Lise, who works in global tech, collaborates on products she feels are missing from the market – and will travel just about anywhere for a great concert.
Adding even more meaning to the launch, a portion of proceeds supports Ride for a Child, a non-profit focused on education at grassroots level, currently supporting Cape Town students with everything from school fees to mentorship.
Fun, design-led and full of local flavour, My Mother City is less about where you go in Cape Town — and more about how it feels to be part of it.