A few years in the making, TheUrbanative’s outdoor collection has finally made its debut. Its furniture pieces borrow from past collections, summer memories, and time spent sitting on steel and wire mesh chairs. It’s a love letter in a sense to the outdoor furniture of the 80s and 90s. The contemporary African furniture and product design brand based in South Africa leans on this approach for all of their pieces, sharing and retelling stories while hoping to create new ones.

Using a juxtaposition of abstracted African cultural inspiration with the functionality, look, and feel of modern materials, technologies, and silhouettes, their new offerings are ready to be lived with. The outdoor collection includes a sofa, pod chair, lounge chair, cafe chair, cafe table, nesting tables, planters, and an outdoor mat. The Pumzika couch and Akaya Lounge Chair are soft and inspired, while the Wambo Pod is a fun yet functional addition. The Akaya Cafe Chair is a reworking of the Akaya Lounge Chair that pairs perfectly with the Bambanani Cafe Table.

TheUrbanative partnered with local South African makers for other pieces, staying true to a commitment to community and collaboration. The Oromo Planters were made with Seed Store, while the Iziqhaza Mat was made with Norris & Norris using recycled rubber.

The framework of the outdoor collection’s pieces are stainless and galvanized steel that’s e-coated where necessary, then powder-coated in a  UV stable ferrograin finish. Choose from a palette of colors reminiscent of a summer day: coral, sand, palm, and ocean.

Fabrics that could handle outdoor conditions led the brand to using Sunbrella fabrics, as well as local options from The Mill fabrics. Breathable and mold-, mildew-, water-, and stain-resistant, they’re also UV fade-resistant.

Thabi Mesh and Stone Nesting Tables

To learn more about TheUrbanative’s outdoor collection, visit theurbanative.com.

Kelly Beall is senior editor at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based graphic designer and writer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, and enjoys sharing her finds with others. When undistracted by great art and design, she can be found making a mess in the kitchen, consuming as much information as possible, or on the couch with her three pets. Find her @designcrush on social.

You can follow Kelly Beall on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. Read all of Kelly Beall's posts.

The Crate Collection includes a lounge chair, dining chair, coffee table + side table that feature an appealingly strong + simple aesthetic.

Two new pieces – the Ribbon Curved Sofa and Ribbon Curved Bench – are joining LAUN's Ribbon family of aluminum furniture.

The ONSEN collection is lightweight, practical + cozy – all things Wallpaper* considered when choosing the perfect outdoor lounge.

Hem has launched its first outdoor dining collection, Chop, designed by Philippe Malouin that's sure to become a modern classic.

You’ll always hear it from Design Milk first. Our passion is discovering and highlighting emerging talent, and we’re energized by and for our community of like-minded design lovers — like you!

Photo copyright retained by photo owners, everything else © 2023 Design Milk®.