Our story
Jonathan and Sandie Barbour are the proud owners of Whatnot. Their story began 20 years ago, stemming from a simple passion for natural fabrics and leathers, and key partnerships.
The business was established in 1998, and the fabric and leather industry has always played a central role in our lives. Through our passion and knowledge, we continued to grow over the years, and we can honestly say that we love what we do and live it every single day.
So, what’s the story behind our name? The ‘Whatnot’ refers to a corner stand with shelves, an item that originated in the 18th century and was very popular in England and the United States throughout the 19th century. It was used to display a collection of treasures such as china, ornamental objects, and collectables. The whimsical name really resonated with us and we thought it was the perfect fit for our business, as much like the popular furniture piece in its day, we felt our Whatnot could easily fit into everyone’s home.
We’re passionate about supporting skilled local and international suppliers, providing quality products, and offering great service with a personal touch. Client satisfaction is at the heart of everything we do, and our team strives to give our clients the best possible experience from start to finish. Working with us means going on a journey, it’s more than just job to us, it’s a partnership.
What we do
Our mission is to provide high quality leather and fabric at competitive prices, while offering personalised service.
We work alongside architects, designers, procurement specialists, upholsters, and skilled tradesmen. Our clients and staff have been with us for many years, and we’ve built close working relationships with them based on trust and a mutual understanding that quality comes first. As a team, we are constantly on the lookout for new and innovative local products to add to our collection.
We predominantly operate in South Africa, but we also partner with clients based in Africa and abroad, as we are able to supply and ship internationally. Some of our clients are based in London, Dubai, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, and Australia.
Our products
Having lived and worked in Africa most of our lives, we’re heavily influenced by our surroundings and unique landscapes. Our products reflect that, and we work very closely with our local suppliers, tanneries, and mills to ensure everything meets our high standards.
Our carefully selected collection continues to grow to meet the ever-changing needs of our market, and offers different colours, textures, and finishes, suitable for home, corporate and hospitality requirements.
We love going on a journey with our clients to find the perfect solution for them from our range of products or creating something bespoke that will take their project to the next level. Many of our products arose from clients’ needs, and some even get named accordingly.
Leather and skins
We have a wide range of ethically sourced, high-quality leather, hides and skins available.
Our leather ranges from Antique, Pista, Buffed, Crackle, Khoi, Regal, Luxury, and Vintage, to name but a few. These are available in many different colours to suit every palette. Jonathan also works closely with our tanneries to dye specific colours on request.
Skins include zebra, sheepskin, cowhides, impala, springbok, as well as designer skins.
Our selection continues to grow and we’re always open to sourcing for specific requirements.
Fabrics
We offer a beautiful range of natural textured fabrics like linen, cotton, and silk. Our catalogue has a wide variety of options that cater to many different styles, ranging from neutrals, prints, sheer, velvet, outdoor, and denim, to name a few.
Customised fabric designs
Our current digital designs can be customised in terms of base cloth, scale, and colour. New designs are constantly being added to the collection and since they are available digitally, the benefit is that they can never be discontinued.
We also offer the You Print service and design assistance, which enables custom printing on a variety of base fabrics, using the latest environmentally friendly print technology. Something we’re very excited about is the option to print on 100% locally produced, recycled Poly fabrics and wallpaper, with high-spec contract application [R-PET].
If you have any questions about our current fabric range or personalised designs, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us so we can discuss the best possible option for you.
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