When history and modernity combine with panache, you get the extraordinary. This can very much be said of the store that is the Hatfield Street home of Cape Town brand Chommies. The elegant refurbished heritage building serves as a concept retail destination and escapist city oasis for local residents and international visitors alike. Chommies ethos has always been to connect people with a passion for dogs, design and Africa.
For dogs, Chommies makes high-quality, eye-catching accessories: leashes that promise long walks, harnesses for the more curious, and collars to show they belong. For people, it’s colour-soaked casual-wear and novelties so every day can feel like a holiday.
‘We’re a company inspired by a life lived with dogs at the tip of Africa and are so lucky to call Cape Town our home. As we naturally evolve into more of a holiday brand with dogs at its core celebrates contemporary design and artisanal novelties handmade to the highest standard in South Africa, we wanted to create a feel-good, welcoming space that is a sensory experience and would allow us to explore new ideas and products in home, fashion and accessories’ says founder and creative director Nathalie Klijn.
Traditionally known as Ravenswood House, a stately national monument dating to the early 1800s built in the late classical Georgian style, the striking building has been made even more remarkable thanks to Klijn’s vivacious visual style. A queen of colour, her touch is everywhere – in the unconventionally coloured ceilings, the walls adorned with patterned murals and commissioned wallpaper featuring playful illustrations of Cape Town living. In the entrance, natty painted stripes exude sophisticated gaiety, hand-painted in swathes of moody teal, salmon and terracotta that she artfully sourced from a combination of Farrow & Ball and Plascon swatches.
The House of Chommies boasts a secluded courtyard with dog-friendly benches and a water fountain that seconds as a dipping pond, with the garden that was originally designed by Cape Town landscaper Franchesca Watson. You can take a seat at bespoke café tables with custom beaded surfaces and original metal outdoor chairs inspired by Malawian basketry, both of which were developed specifically for this space. ‘We want our customers and their dogs to feel inspired but also at ease as if in their own home, helping them to unwind from today’s busy world,’ says Klijn.
Much more
The name ‘Chommies’ is borrowed from a South African term for ‘pals’, encapsulating the joie de vivre of this playful brand. The House of Chommies presents a vibrant array of collars, leashes and harnesses fit for every size and fur colour. To mix and match are a range of innovative accessories and gifts for people to include keyrings, woven basket bags and ‘sunny side up’ phone necklaces.
For the ultimate in artisanal luxury crafted in South Africa is ‘Mo-Hey! by Chommies’ – a range of ultra-soft knitwear, designed and hand-knitted from luxurious mohair yarn as jerseys, cardigans and puff blouses in playful stripes or unicolours.
All products are handmade using the finest materials to the highest quality in the Chommies studio situated across the road from the store in a beautiful Victorian townhouse, which Klijn sensitively renovated to bring it in line with the brand aesthetic. Thanks to local artisans who form part of the Chommies’ team and work with pride and precision, traditional African craftsmanship such as whipping, weaving and macramé live on and are cleverly reimagined, whilst adding soul and story to each product. Customers can make an appointment to visit the workshop.
The House of Chommies concept store is located at 110 Hatfield Street, Gardens, Cape Town.
The store is open Monday to Friday from 10h00 to 16h00.
(Opening hours may change, please visit the website for the most up to date information).
Products are available to purchase instore or online.
For more information visit www.chommies.com or email hello@chommies.com.