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Mungo

Tessa (Shopkeeper) IMG_2113

Mungo is a woven homeware textiles shop and micro mill which recently opened in Cape Town, South Africa.  Tessa Harding, the proprietor, is the daughter of Stuart Holding, a master weaver who apprenticed at mills in Yorkshire, England. Tessa’s father established Mungo in 1998, a mill based in the seaside town of Plettenberg Bay in South Africa. ‘Mungo’ is an old English weaving term that refers to ‘cloth made from recycled woven material’. Although it is not applicable to Mungo in the literal sense of the word, all of the looms at the mill have been carefully restored, retrofitted and repurposed by Tessa’s father. At the brand’s shop in Cape Town there is a micro mill which is open to the public, capturing the attention of passers-by, as the clacking of the loom reverberates up the street. Mungo’s customers are travelers and locals looking to purchase unique and locally, well made products.

The Shopkeeper

Tessa, inspired by her parents, her father a weaver and her mother a shopkeeper, wanted to continue the Mungo legacy. A photographer, Tessa had been overseeing Mungo’s direct sales and marketing for the past five years. Discovering the current Mungo building, she was inspired to open a shop. Tessa believes it is the most beautiful four-story heritage building complete with original Oregon pine floors, ornate staircase, and gables. It is situated right in the heart of Cape Town, amongst other designer stores and some of the best local cafes. She realizes how important the story behind the product is and has created a retail space where the customers can actually experience a part of the story first hand. Tessa loves having her own shop, she loves seeing people so enamored with the history and finding a new appreciation for textiles as they learn about the art of weaving.

On the Future of Retail

“People don’t have to leave the house any more because you can pretty much get everything online. In order for brick and mortar retail to remain strong it needs to differentiate from online by becoming a more tactile and experiential space. That being said, we cannot ignore the fact that the Internet is a huge part of retail now, and it is important that the two platforms work in unison. In terms of product offering, we are seeing a shift towards authenticity and transparency. People want to purchase products that are made sustainably, ethically and from the source.”

78 Hout Street, Cape Town, South Africa

Mungo

Photography Tessa Harding

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