What to Expect at Decorex in Sandton - 24-27 July 2025
Category News
In the world of luxury property, design isn't a finishing touch - it's a philosophy. It shapes how we live, entertain and express identity through space. For discerning homeowners and investors who prize aesthetics, innovation and timeless elegance, Decorex Joburg 2025 and 100% Design Africa promise an immersive journey into the future of high-end living.
From 24-27 July 2025, the Sandton Convention Centre plays host to this expansive showcase - Africa's largest gathering of architectural visionaries, design talent and lifestyle innovation. Running alongside Decorex Johannesburg, 100% Design Africa spotlights contemporary African creativity alongside global trends, offering a vibrant counterpart to Joburg's architectural scale.
As the continent's largest design, architecture and lifestyle showcase, it promises bold statements and boundary-pushing creativity. 100% Design Africa complements the experience with its dynamic celebration of original contemporary African design - making this combined event a must for anyone curating a truly distinctive and culturally resonant home.
Together, Decorex Joburg and 100% Design Africa form an essential destination for property owners, developers and connoisseurs seeking to elevate their living spaces with meaning and distinction. This is where Africa's creative energy comes alive - where bold contrasts and rich cultural pride are on full display. From sculptural furniture crafted in rare hardwoods and indigenous stone to ceramics and textiles featuring traditional motifs reimagined for contemporary interiors, every piece tells a story.
The show also celebrates pan-African collaborations, where innovation meets heritage in ways that are both visually striking and deeply rooted - perfect for collectors and cultural tastemakers with an eye for originality.
What and who to expect at this Johannesburg event
With over 300 exhibitors expected, Decorex Joburg 2025 brings together an extraordinary mix of design talent and lifestyle innovation. From interiors and furniture to art, landscaping, architecture and smart technology, the event captures the many ways we shape and elevate the spaces we live in.
Set across multiple levels of the Sandton Convention Centre, the exhibition is thoughtfully laid out in immersive zones that speak to every facet of luxury living. Visitors can wander through curated displays of bespoke furniture, elegant lighting and architectural finishes; explore outdoor spaces featuring fire pits, decking and sculptural garden design; or engage with galleries showcasing collectible African art. Highlights also include smart home systems that bring ease and intelligence to everyday living, tactile showcases of stone, tile and natural materials and a vibrant handmade market where textiles, ceramics and crafted pieces reflect the rich spirit of African design.
The show features the Local Design Pavilion, a spotlight on rising and established African creatives; the International Design Pavilion, which brings global design houses to the Johannesburg stage; and the Capitec handmadeAFRICA Pavilion, celebrating artisanal mastery and contemporary craft from across the continent. Complementing these are dedicated zones such as the Renovate & Build Hall, the Kitchens & Bathrooms Hall, and the Décor Hall - each layered with inspiring installations and focused design features.
This is where form meets function - and where the bold, expressive language of African architecture and creativity comes fully to life.
Keynote Conversations
As the flagship design event on the continent, Decorex Joburg 2025 brings together design thinkers, urban visionaries and creators for its signature Future Talks series. These sessions tackle the pressing topics and imaginative possibilities shaping African and global design - from 3D printing to landscape architecture, storytelling and typography. For property developers, investors and luxury homeowners alike, the talks offer a thought-provoking look at how design continues to transform the way we live, build and experience our surroundings.
Here is a selection from the many talks that will be available:
Thursday, 24 July 2025
🕒 14:00 -14:45
Charles Job: Awards, Design and the Built Environment
Internationally acclaimed Swiss-Nigerian architect and designer Charles Job brings a wealth of insight from his global projects and award-winning practice. Known for a minimalist yet culturally layered approach, he will reflect on the intersection of design accolades and real-world architectural outcomes - offering a rich perspective for developers and homeowners.
Friday, 25 July 2025
🕒 12:00 - 12:45
The Future of Hospitality
Hosted by Retha Erichsen, this thoughtful session reimagines hospitality beyond the traditional roles of guest and host. Drawing on neuroscience, art, architecture and interaction design, it explores how immersive environments and experiential storytelling can spark joy and connection in spaces we inhabit, visit and share.
As a freelance creative stylist, conceptual director and visual storyteller, Retha brings over two decades experience across editorial, retail and lifestyle design. Her work - rooted in intuition, trend fluency and image-led storytelling - positions her as a powerful voice on the sensory and emotional depth of hospitality in a post-functional era. Expect a richly layered conversation that speaks to those designing boutique stays, lifestyle-led developments or homes where every guest moment matters.
Saturday, 26 July 2025
🕒 15:00 - 15:45
Body of Work: Q&A with Mash.T Design Studio
Founded by award-winning designer Thabisa Mjo, Mash.T Design Studio is known for blending cutting-edge design with traditional South African craft to tell culturally rich, visually arresting stories.
In this exclusive Q&A session, guests will hear about the studio's creative evolution - from winning the 2015 Nando's Hot Young Designer Talent Search with the now-iconic Tutu 2.0 light, to achieving international acclaim. Most recently, Thabisa made history as the first South African designer to have two works - the Tutu Light and Mjojo Cabinet - accepted into the permanent collection of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs at the Louvre in Paris. This is a rare opportunity to engage with a studio shaping the global conversation around African design excellence.
Multi-disciplinary visionary, storyteller, director celebrated for his unique narrative approach and accomplished MC Bathandwa Ngwendu returns as the host of the Future Talks series for Decorex 2025. With his experience, creativity and passion for design and culture, Bathandwa brings clarity, warmth and insight to every session. He is uniquely positioned to guide thoughtful dialogue between creators, innovators and audiences. Expect each session to be grounded, energised and thoughtfully steered under his engaging presence.
Sunday, 27 July 2025
🕒 15:00 - 15:45
The Artisans: The Future of Craft
Craft is experiencing a powerful renaissance - and African artisans are at its forefront. This inspiring session explores how traditional techniques are being reimagined through a contemporary lens, positioning handmade work not only as a cultural artefact but as a vital force in global design. It's a celebration of resilience, resourcefulness and creativity - highlighting the role of craft as a cornerstone of African identity and expression.
The panel features leading voices including Sinegugu Ngxongo, founder of Bambizulu, known for her intricate, heritage-inspired woven creations rooted in Zulu culture and Lesley Hudson, curator of handmadeAFRICA, a cross-continental design platform that champions the stories and innovations of Africa's craft communities. With moderation by Bathandwa Ngwendu, this session offers profound insight into how craft continues to shape, preserve and elevate African design - one handwoven, hand-carved, hand-formed piece at a time.
A Social Affair for the Stylish
Beyond the installations and thought-provoking talks, Decorex Joburg and 100% Design Africa also deliver on the social front - earning their place as a true highlight on the design world's calendar. Whether you're networking over a glass of bubbly, lingering after a keynote or discovering the artistry behind a cocktail, this is where conversations spark and creative communities connect.
At the heart of it all is the VIP Lounge - a beautifully curated space offering private design tours, champagne bars and exclusive access to headline speakers. It's a meeting ground for architects, designers, property developers and collectors who understand that great design begins with meaningful dialogue.
Just steps away, The Line Avenue Bar transforms a simple drinks stop into a poetic design experience. Located on the Future Talks floor, this conceptual bar is anchored by a dramatic golden seam - an homage to kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending with gold. Etched with motifs referencing South African heritage, cultural healing and transformation, the bar invites guests to reflect as much as refresh. One side evokes introspection with shadowy textures and the hush of midnight jazz; the other bursts with colour, brass, bold graphics and the rhythm of Afro house and neo-soul. It's not just a place to pause - it's a journey across light and shade, culture and connection.
Equally immersive is KANPAI by Cocoon Lifestyle, a pop-up dining experience nestled within the Kitchens + Bathrooms Hall. Created in collaboration with Rosebank's celebrated KANPAI restaurant, this space embodies Afrimalism - a grounded and layered fusion of African minimalism and Japanese harmony. Natural textures, calm palettes and earthy elegance set the tone, while the menu offers a sensory delight: sushi, poke bowls, bao buns, dim sum and spring rolls paired with curated cocktails, premium beer and sparkling water. It's a moment of design, flavour and quiet sophistication - proof that at Decorex, even the meals are a masterclass in style.
Design with Distinction
For those who view property as more than a transaction - for whom it represents luxury, lifestyle and lasting personal expression - Decorex 2025 offers a rare and refined experience. This is where design meets discernment, where each detail is considered and where the future of elevated living is imagined and brought to life.
From exclusive access to the world's finest designers and artisans to curated showcases of materials, furnishings and technology that redefine the meaning of home, Decorex is a destination for those who expect more. More innovation. More beauty. More meaning.
It's the perfect setting for homeowners who demand spaces that are as thoughtful as they are striking and who are ready to transform their vision into a statement of luxury living.
Decorex Johannesburg and 100% Design Africa are not just showcases - they are an invitation to elevate how we live. Johannesburg's bold statements and 100% Design Africa's continental creative energy offer something invaluable: a window into the soul of design.
To experience the full spectrum of design, innovation, and inspiration, we recommend securing your tickets in advance.
Visit register.decorex.co.za/joburg/tickets to book your access and explore available pass options. Whether you're visiting for a day or immersing yourself across the full weekend, your ticket unlocks a world of luxury living, creative brilliance and future-facing design.
To find out more, visit:
🌐 www.decorex.co.za
🌐 www.100percentdesign.co.za
Or download the Decorex App: https://qrco.de/bfrgho
Because luxury isn't just about where you live. It's about how you live.
The information provided in this article is intended for general interest and inspiration only. Event details, exhibitor line-ups and speaker schedules for Decorex 2025 are subject to change at the discretion of the organisers. Hamilton's Property Portfolio does not represent or act on behalf of Decorex, 100% Design Africa or any featured exhibitors. We encourage clients to visit the official event websites or contact organisers directly for the most up-to-date information and ticketing details.
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Author: Twaambo Chirwa
