For as long as she can remember, Merewyn de Heer of Hellooow Handmade has designed and created things. ‘’I spent hours on the floor of my mom’s sewing room playing with ribbons and buttons. My mom says that, from as young as two years old, I would pin fabric together to make clothes for my dolls’’, says Merewyn. ‘’My mom can make almost anything with her hands, so growing up my creativity was nurtured’’.

My parents didn’t fit the ‘private school mould’ and arriving at school in our ‘rust bucket’ along-side the Mercs, BMWs and Porsches added to my determination to succeed. Thankfully, art was my strength and passion at school and often a way to feel accepted and be recognised. It really felt confident in that arena, which was awesome.

After matriculating, I studied Graphic Design at Natal Technikon, which I loved as I was now focussing on my true love. After Tech, I designed calendars for one year in order to obtain work experience. I then worked for Hunt Lascaris advertising agency for two years, spent a further two years with Path Finders, and was then employed by ITI.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 2000, I was given the opportunity to go on my own and, along with my business partner, Jo Forde, The Dream Room advertising agency was born. Jo is strong strategically and, with my creative skills, we complimented each other perfectly.

In 2007, ITI, the company which we had both previously worked for, needed an advertising arm to their business and bought 50% of The Dream Room.

Two years later and with two young children, I decided that it was time to do something different. I enjoyed the nine years at The Dream Room but I began to miss using my hands and creating product. It is part of who I am and I craved it.

I took a pottery course in Gillitts and enjoyed every minute of it. I started creating ceramic crosses on leather and velvet ribbon. My friends loved them and began placing orders with me. I then branched out into jewellery and my Hellooow Handmade jewellery range was launched at the 2010 Design Indaba. To my delight, big retailers like Urban and Earth Child bought stock for that year’s summer ranges.

In 2011, I launched the beaded chandeliers and these have not only been my biggest sellers, but have enabled me to employ women infected and affected by HIV and Aids. Hellooow Handmade has allowed me to work flexible hours so that I can spend time with my children, Rachel and Luke, to work with my hands, designing and creating beautiful product, to make money and to give other women the opportunity to do the same.

All of our pieces of jewellery and chandeliers are handmade and, in turn, unique. Creating these authentic products requires me using my time to go back to the basics. I feel encouraged by the move away from instant customer satisfaction and the move towards custom-made, socially conscious, proudly South African products.
 

​

​

​

​​

​