Our Team
At Ashanti Design, our people are at the heart of everything we create. From our skilled weavers and seamstresses to our expert welders, every piece is handcrafted in our Cape Town facility with care and dedication. Many of our seamstresses have been with Ashanti for years, growing into master weavers who now lead the way in producing our signature designs. Their craftsmanship and creativity bring each piece to life, ensuring that no two are ever the same.
In 2024, Vanessa Steyn and Rob Burton took the helm of Ashanti Design, ushering in an exciting new chapter. As CEO, Vanessa oversees daily operations, bringing her passion for African-inspired design to the forefront. Rob, as Strategic Director, focuses on growth, efficiencies, and expanding Ashanti’s global reach.
Together, they are committed to upholding Ashanti Design’s legacy of artisanal excellence while pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in bespoke lighting and woven design.
With a team of passionate artisans and bold new leadership, Ashanti Design continues to craft unique, handwoven pieces that celebrate African craftsmanship, one thread, one weld, and one stitch at a time.
Vanessa Steyn
CEO
Vanessa's admiration for Ashanti Design's African-inspired products led her to leave the corporate world for a more creative role.
As the new CEO, she will manage daily operations, building on Rob Walker's foundation. Vanessa and Rob Burton aim to offer bespoke products and nurture long-standing relationships.
They have exciting collaborations planned to showcase South African craftsmanship, aiming to become the preferred supplier of African-inspired artisanal lighting while supporting community development and maintaining global client relationships.
Rob Burton
Strategic Director
Rob's interest in Ashanti Design reflects his dedication to African artistry, aiming to produce unique pieces that celebrate African culture. While his partner Vanessa handles daily operations, Rob focuses on strategic growth, sales, and efficiencies.
He envisions Ashanti Design as a leader in bespoke lighting, committed to high-quality, artistic creations.
Robbie Jurd
Production Manager
Robbie heads up our welding department, overseeing a talented team of 5 who help bring our stunning lampshades to life. With a background in toolmaking and a CNC certification from Merseta, he’s always loved making the impossible possible.
Fun fact: Robbie's a speed fanatic! He recently broke his personal best record, hitting 274km/h in just 800m.
Amiena
Admin & Accounts
It's been such an honour to witness Amiena's journey at Ashanti Design over the last five years. She started working on the CMT manufacturing line, but we soon noticed her top-notch organisational skills and attention to detail, so we had to put them to use!
With some further training, Amiena has moved into the admin department and now runs all of the accounts.
Amiena was rather quiet in CMT, but has now found her voice! It's been such a pleasure to witness this growth.
Nandi
Production Coordinator - Weaving Team
With years of experience, Nandi's role focuses on coordinating the production process with precision. Her meticulous attention to detail ensures beautiful colour selection and pre-production preparations. Her organisational skills shine as she manages incoming orders, creating job cards and ensuring our weavers have the necessary materials.
Her role ensures the reflection of our commitment to quality and craftsmanship - a true driving force behind Ashanti's production department.
Theresa
Production Coordinator - Sewing Team
Theresa, the firecracker floor manager and production guru of our team!
With a background in the cut, make and trim industry, Theresa has been with us for nine years. She started out as the floor manager at our previous factory, but she quickly took the reins and became an integral part of our team.
Her ability to keep the team motivated and on track earned her the nickname 'Soldier' and we couldn't be happier to have her as part of our team.
Tess
Sales
With five years of experience in sales, decor consulting, and furniture production management, Tess brings an incredible blend of skills to our team! Her eye for design and dedication to top-notch service help bring our client's visions to life. From concept to completion, Tess is all about transforming spaces with unique decor solutions.
Fun Fact from Tess: I’m a plant whisperer; I love horticulture and landscape architecture. I'm deeply inspired by our beautiful African landscape
Elsie
Dispatch Coordinator
She started as a painter, crafting intricate
This year marks 20 incredible years of Elsie being part of the Ashanti Design family!
She started as a painter, crafting intricate designs on ostrich eggs. Then, she moved on to packing orders, inspecting fabric items, and even becoming the first weaver for our iconic lampshade range. Her journey reflects her passion and versatility!
Favourite memory: Playing water guns with the team and sharing laughs with her Ashanti family.
Fun fact: At just 9 years old, Elsie stitched up a chicken’s tummy using a needle and thread, dreaming of becoming a nurse one day!
Siya
Dispatch Assistant
Siya began his journey with Ashanti Design 10 years ago, working in the fusing department and eventually managing it. Now, he is our dispatch assistant — his hands are the last to touch every order.
An unbelievably organised and hardworking human being, when asked why he loves Ashanti, Siya told us it was his 'second home'.
We are so blessed to see Siya's growth, and are equally grateful for his dedication, loyalty and hard work. You're the one Siya.
Welding Team
Ronaldo | Curwin | Junior | Willy
Our welding team, led by the incredibly skilled Robbie Jurd, is the backbone of Ashanti Design. Every metal frame you see – from the foundation of our signature lampshades to custom structural elements – is crafted by hand right here in our Paarden Eiland factory in Cape Town.
This team plays a crucial role in bringing our creative visions to life, taking on every curve, size, and new challenge with precision and passion. Without them, there would be nothing for our weavers to weave on!
Sewing & Weaving Team
Zizi | Coco | Andiswa | Thandi | Pauline | Sarah | May | Linda | Eliel | Nandi | Theresa
At the heart of Ashanti Design is our incredible sewing and weaving team, led by the talented Nandi and Theresa. Many of the women in this team started out as seamstresses and, over time, have grown into master weavers – each one bringing their own creativity, rhythm, and flair to the work.
Whether they’re stitching cushions, weaving lampshades, or experimenting with new designs, this team brings warmth, joy, and serious talent to the workshop every single day. We’re so proud of everything they create.
