Royal treatment

Experience the magic of the Magaliesberg from the decadent vantage point of

De Hoek Country Hotel

There’s a reason why a crown motif adorns the De Hoek Country Hotel’s

logo, and is repeated in beautiful metal artworks scattered around the gardens: if you don’t feel like royalty at the start of your stay, you certainly will when you check out.

Nestled just outside the quaint town of Magaliesberg, De Hoek is conveniently less than an hour’s drive from Johannesburg – just enough time to let the lush green countryside and rolling hills of the Magaliesberg replace the gradually

fading Joburg skyline and stir up a real sense of holiday spirit.

There are plenty of distractions en route to De Hoek, what with the impossibly diverse Magalies Meander serving up some of the best adventure activities and

arts and crafts in the area. But don’t linger too long, because the understated elegance and tranquillity of De Hoek is best savoured at leisure.

How green was my valley

Ivy-lined stairs, flowery pathways and a light, expansive reception area give a fine first impression of the venue. A closer inspection of the magnificent space is even more rewarding, revealing hand-cut stone walls (quarried and brought

up from Lesotho) and magnificent wooden beams, rails and lintels (salvaged from the demolition sites of various historic properties in Johannesburg, and even the old Durban station).

The suites are as tastefully decorated as the main house, exuding a comforting sort of old school charm. Each boasts a huge, airy bathroom with a beautifully big tub, and generous windows that open out onto a breathtaking view of the

greenery all around. Artfully situated so that you’ll feel delightfully like you have the entire estate to yourself, De Hoek’s plush suites can’t help but encourage guests to wander as many of the leafy pathways criss-crossing the estate as possible.

Some lead to secluded benches and romantic walks along the river bend, while others open out onto a beautiful communal courtyard (where high tea is

served) and a shady, secluded swimming pool. For the adventurous and energetic, De Hoek offers a myriad of outdoor activities, from truly five-star offerings such as gliding, horse riding and hot-air ballooning (launched from De Hoek’s grounds) to good, clean fun in the form of archery, badminton, lawn croquet and boules.

Peace and satisfaction

For the stressed-out city slicker, however, an afternoon nap is an equally appealing activity. Sink into your king-sized bed and let De Hoek’s

soothing “background music” of chirping birds and a dreamy forest of trees whispering sweet nothings to each other soothe you to sleep.

When your hearty appetite finally decides to wake you, rest assured that chef and managing director Michael Holenstein and his team are on hand satisfy every culinary whim. In my case, this took the scrumptious shape of a crisp and refreshing pear consommé with prawn tortellini, followed by a succulent pan-fried salmon and completed with a coconut sorbet palette cleanser and a trio of delicate crème brûlées (chocolate, orange and traditional). It came as no surprise to learn that De Hoek has been voted amongst the

top 100 restaurants in South Africa for 10 years.

There’s even a well-used helipad on the property, offering guests the option of flying in for one of De Hoek’s famous gourmet Sunday lunches (open to non-residents). Which proves that just as De Hoek is willing to go the distance

for even the most bespoke and exclusive requests, so too are its guests and loyal patrons.

Country living has never been classier, and at just 50kms from Sandton, it’s never been closer either.

With thanks to:

● De Hoek Country Hotel: dehoek.com, reservations@dehoek.com

+27 (0)14 577 9600

● Magalies Meander: magaliesmeander.co.za, info@magaliesmeander.co.za

* This article was first published in the March issue of Sandton magazine.

Soulful songbird

Lira talks from the heart about going green

Award-winning singer/songwriter Lira breezes into the Southern Sun hotel in Hyde Park wearing a vibrant rainbow-coloured blouse. She’s a beautiful embodiment of everything the rainbow nation stands for, but few realise that she’s also a fierce green campaigner who’s passionate about people minimising

their impact on the environment as much as possible.

From her earliest days, Lira’s music has always been inspirational, positive

and empowering, and deliberately so. In a song like “Abba” on her latest

album Return to Love, for example, she tackles the green issue by commenting

on how idiotic and self-destructive human beings can be.

A staunch pescatarian and passionate advocate for using gas and solar power wherever possible, Lira truly does practice what she preaches. She even admits that she’s urged her company’s driver to rock an environmentally-friendly scooter while doing errands in and around the city, and she’s quickly infuriated when she sees new buildings popping up that don’t adhere to green principles.

“As a nation, I understand that going green and adopting eco-friendly technologies like solar power isn’t something that everyone can afford,”

she says. “But from the government’s side, I am shocked that every single

new building going up isn’t green! It should be a mandate – and for the

big corporates too. They can afford it, and by adopting green principles

they would influence their employees to adopt similar changes in their own

homes. Going green is a lifestyle change. It needs to become part of our

value systems.”

Besides urging people to make responsible choices for our planet, Lira

is passionate about the responsibility that comes with the freedom our

countrymen have fought for. As a role model and global ambassador for this

country, she feels an obligation to inspire and educate the youth.

“I believe that education is the most sustainable form of change for

us, because that’s where we can make a difference,” she says. “Young people

are disillusioned, and we need to give them hope, otherwise we’re in huge

trouble. I feel a great responsibility, because I made it, and that alone

blows my mind.

“Living in the hood is tough; it’s not the right environment for someone who is ambitious, because everyone has to stay on the same level. The hood crucifies those who step outside. But I did it, and I have something to say and share.

It would be madness not to at least try to do that.”

Life’s work

Lira’s life story explains a lot about the source of her passion and drive. She

grew up in the township of Daveyton on the East Rand, but her dreams

proved to be too big to be quelled by the social or economic hardships that

she had to endure.

Today she is one of South Africa’s most successful artists, having won

two SAMA Awards (for Best Female Artist and Album of the Year) in 2008

with her album Soul In Mind and securing multi-platinum sales on her

two albums thereafter.

A year after her live concert was filmed for DVD (becoming the fastest

and highest selling videodisc in South Africa, reaching three times platinum

status), Lira found herself at the 2010 Soccer World Cup kickoff concert

sharing microphones with the likes of Alicia Keys, Shakira and the Black

Eyed Peas. She is also currently in the post production stages of a second

DVD, entitled The Captured Tour.

“We’re always told that things are not possible, I think that in many ways

I represent possibility,” she admits. Lira attributes much of her success to hard work, attitude and perseverance, even though it took three long years before she got her first break. To be such an unlikely success, considering her humble

beginnings, is an honour that Lira takes very seriously, and although she has

never made a secret of the fact she’s trying to break into the international

market, she says her music will always stay true to her African roots.

“Where I come from is so important; what else do I have that would make me unique?” she asks. “That’s something nobody can take away from me. And I also feel like we have a story to tell. We’ve been separate from the world. We’ve only been part of the global scene for the last 16 years really. So now we have this opportunity to introduce the world to who we are – through our fashion, through events like the Soccer World Cup, through our music. And I feel that I have a part to play in that.”

*This article was first published in Sandton magazine's March issue.

Fashion's phoenix

Nicole Morris-Rosenast is putting her own spin on “rags to riches”

If anyone understands how to perfectly tailor the symbiosis between a beautiful once-off, limited edition garment and giving back to a community in need, it’s fashion entrepreneur Nicole Morris-Rosenast.

Like a phoenix that has risen from the ashes, the beauty and brains behind the exclusive members-only House Of Fashion club in Cape Town (and, more recently, Johannesburg) has had to reinvent herself on numerous occasions. But perseverance and hard work now see her expertly navigating the role of owner and MD of a unique and exclusive “slow shopping” experience that’s taking Joburg by storm.

From rags to raiment

It’s a role that unites Nicole’s many years of experience as an international

fashion buyer with her passion for helping those in need. And she understands the importance of being given a fighting chance better than most: she started out as a jobless single mom who had to prove herself as a down-and-out amateur fashion buyer, with no basic salary and working hard for every cent of commission. That probably explains her passion for charity work that empowers

and employs. 

“You’ll only be able to understand that plight when you’ve been there – and I’ve been there not once but three times!” she exclaims. “I think

when you’ve been brought down to your knees to such an extent, it’s hard not to remember that.”

As Nicole sits in front of the opulent backdrop of the glamourous Atholl home

that serves as headquarters for the Johannesburg House of Fashion branch, perfectly poised in a vibrant blue figurehugging dress, it’s a stretch of the imagination to picture the blonde bombshell wanting for anything. Yet she remains utterly humble about her success and passionate to the point of obsession about uplifting impoverished communities.

Where luxury meets charity

Essentially, Nicole’s service to her House of Fashion members is two-fold. First, she acts as a “fashion and style ambassador”, travelling and sourcing a selection of top local and international brands (such as Cango & Rinaldi accessories, Miss Me jeans and items from local designers Kobus Dipennaar, Elbeth Gillis and Daniel Margaux). These garments are then beautifully presented in and around the Atholl house, where, by appointment only, members are free to sip champagne, browse the colour-coded racks and fit their favourite garments with a team of stylists on hand to advise them.

The second service she offers has a more indirect relationship to fashion, via Nicole’s Only One Foundation (named after her once-off garment “Only

One” fashion label). Whenever members purchase items from the House of Fashion, 10% of all of the proceeds are automatically donated to the foundation.

“I see this as a luxury brand with a social conscience, allowing women the opportunity to buy a garment they love and in turn benefit the less fortunate,” she explains. “Just because they shopped at House of Fashion, we’re able to show them the difference that they made in a nearby community.”

With one phone call, members can also have their second hand goods picked up (and even packed up, should the caller so desire) and taken away to be put to good use. What makes the Only One Foundation truly unique is that it fills the divide between receiver and giver that sees so many other charities fall short. Whether donations are clothing (washed, ironed and tailored in the House of Fashion factory) or practical items like food and computers, the foundation uses photos and regular blog posts to track the progress of every one, from the minute it's fetched or donated to its delivery to a household or organisation in need.

Towards empowerment

Nicole says she always knew that she wanted to help a charity that was non-government funded (one that didn’t fit in with strict government criteria, in other words, and didn’t receive handouts as a result).

For a long time the House of Fashion in Cape Town has enjoyed a successful relationship with Where Rainbows Meet, a training and development foundation based in the community of Vrygrond in the Western Cape, and which supports disadvantaged youth in the area.

Although an established affiliation with a Johannesburg-based organisation is still in the pipeline, Nicole reveals her ambitions for a collaboration between House of Fashion Johannesburg and a very skilled group of beaders who'd relish the chance to find their inspirational embroidery a home in haute couture.

“I think it’s Africa’s time,” she advocates. “I’ve been to China 44 times, and I've seen its demise. Eleven years ago there was no such thing as begging

or pleading, but today beggars are everywhere. China also has impoverishment and minimum wage problems.

“We have huge talent and labour in South Africa, just not the raw materials. So we need to bring in the raw materials and allow our talent to design and create products of international standards. It has to be about moving away from people being exploited because they are desperate for work and towards empowering people.”

This article first appeared in the February edition of Sandton magazine.

For more information, contact House of Fashion, Johannesburg: +27 (0)11 784 7307. For more on the Only One Foundation, visit the blog www.onlyonefoundationsa.com.