Firm moves from building exteriors to decorating interiors

It may seem like a big leap from architecture to fashion accessories. But for Max van Wageningen, director and model maker at Cocoon Group, it was the natural next step in catering to the evolving needs of a highly trend conscious Kenyan consumer.

And so earlier this year, Cocoon Group — a three-year-old architecture firm that specialises in photo-real visualisation, model making and animation — established a product line called Pink Impala which develops fashion accessories and interior decor items.

As a model maker, fabricator and graphic designer, 28-year-old Max had been repeatedly approached by companies to develop their logos and packaging material — activities that have little to do with traditional architecture.

The idea to form a design line within the architecture firm grew from this, and his personal realisation that his skills set had diverse application possibilities.

Max roped in the creative flair of his girlfriend, Janina Migdal, an Arts and Design graduate, and a year ago the Pink Impala product line was founded. It marked Cocoon Group’s transition from a service provider to a company that also manufactures products.

“We both studied design so I am using my skills in design,” said Max, explaining how the change in business strategy from service to product centric happened.

“We have always had the ideas, and we are just showing that we can be versatile and do a lot of different stuff,” added Janina.

The business diversification strategy did not require a heavy capital investment since the laser cutter, the main tool in the Pink Impala product line, had already been bought by Cocoon Group as part of its core business and was being used to develop architecture models.

Bought at a cost of $25,000 (Sh2.1 million), the laser cutter often lay idle and so it was readily available for Pink Impala’s creative endeavours.

“I wanted to start a separate side business under Cocoon group called Cocoon Designs so that I could start doing product designs. Pink Impala is an example of our first product design,” said Max.

Janina, 26, a designer by background who specialised in decorative arts, describes the Pink Impala line as a contemporary fusion of Western and traditional Kenyan tribal styles.

“I decorate something that has an everyday functional use,” she said, explaining the light switch cover concept.

Other signature silhouette pieces she has developed include candle holders that are easily assembled through slot-in joints but can be flattened for packing. Pink Impala’s product catalogue also includes select jewellery pieces, such as gecko earrings.

The second group of designs that Janina has developed within Pink Impala draws on local items that have a dual purpose, such as a chunky kikoi necklace, and a scarf that serves as a neck ornament.

All of the materials used by the design enterprise such as wood, acrylic, ceramic and cloth are locally available, and the result is a product that Janina hopes will add sophistication and interest to an undecorated environment.

“It is about finding items that are available in Kenya that can be multi-purpose,” said Janina, illustrating the silk scarf decorated with an orange acrylic feather which serves as a scarf and a necklace.

The name Pink Impala, apart from its resonance with Kenya, was chosen because it can be represented as an image without the use of words. It has already developed a strong corporate clientele with its neatly etched products, and has worked with Tribe Hotel, Village Market, The Loft, and Electric Wind Power.

Pink Impala currently sells its items at local fairs and is planning to establish an online shop. Next month, its items will be exhibited at the Spring Valley fair, and at the Nairobi Fashion Week in September.