- Yvonne Hlaisi, founder of YSJ Interiors, builds tyre coffee tables and trains her husband Vincent Xitsunge to cut business costs.
- She is holding a R2,500 hands-on masterclass in Durban’s Musgrave from 1 to 6 October to teach the skill.
Yvonne Hlaisi is petite and people do not believe she can build furniture with her own hands. But she does, turning old tyres and rope into coffee tables, TV stands, bassinets and baskets.
“Most of the people I meet find it hard to believe that a woman can do physical designs that I do,” she said.
Hlaisi runs YSJ Interiors from home. She was born and raised in Giyani and studied Art and Design at Nelson Mandela University, where she graduated with flying colours.
She works alongside her husband, Vincent Xitsunge, who she is training in the craft. The high cost of living means she cannot afford to hire more staff, so for now it is just the two of them.
Materials are getting more expensive too. The rope she uses for her furniture used to cost her R40. After searching around, she found a supplier selling it for R22 instead.
Her smaller items start at R350. Bigger, customised pieces cost a couple of thousand rand.
Hlaisi has already trained many people in the skill, and she is taking it on the road. From 1 to 6 October, she is running a hands-on masterclass in Durban’s Musgrave. It costs R2,500 for the week. After Durban, she plans to take the masterclass to other parts of the country.
“We want people to see that they can use their hands and creativity to create something which in turn can become an income,” she said.
“What keeps me going is seeing the smiles on my clients’ faces,” she said.
“It motivates me to work hard and to improve my craft.”
