Anna Weylandt has been surrounded by design for as long as she can remember. “I was quite lucky to grow up in an environment that’s business-focused and also creative,”she reveals, speaking from Cape Town where she’s based. Originally from Namibia, Anna was raised in South Africa after her family relocated there during her childhood.
As the director of strategic growth and brand development at Weylandts, the leading furniture and homeware company founded by her grandfather in 1964, Anna’s visionary approach is driving the brand into the future. Her growth-focused initiatives include a fashion partnership with renowned designer Thebe Magugu, the launch of Weylandtstudio — a private client interior design service — and the brand’s entry into the hospitality space, with her latest project set to launch in August 2026.
Your Luxury Africa recently chatted to Anna about her design journey, personal style, and the guiding force behind her work.
YLA: How does travelling and experiencing different cultures shape your work?
Anna: Experiencing cultures that are so different to my own gives me a sense of curiosity. And I think curiosity is an important trait to have as a designer because it allows you to interrogate things more. For me, travel is something that opens your eyes to what’s possible, and in that way, I’m inspired by it.
YLA: Looking back, was designing something that shaped you early on?
Anna: As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned how much influence my environment has had on me as a designer. I’m lucky to have grown up in a beautiful environment thanks to my parents. There was always an intention to create a beautiful space, so I’ve grown up with that sensibility.
YLA: You’ve released several books about Japan. Where does your admiration for the culture come from, and what aspects continue to inspire you?
Anna: Japan and Asia as a whole are future-forward, and I love that energy. Asia is vast and so different from what I experience every day (at home). Being there makes you feel very insignificant, and I think that’s a healthy thing to remember, that there’s this whole world out there, and I’m just one small person in this massive landscape.
YLA: How would you describe your creative process?
Anna: My creative process goes back to who’s making the product; that’s always my starting point. Getting to know that process intimately gives me a full understanding of how something is made, and that opens me up to ideas. Having an understanding of the actual making of something sparks creativity for me.
YLA: Who are your favourite designers, and how have they influenced your sense of style or creativity?
Anna: I love Italian brands, classics like Baxter’s are a huge inspiration to me. I travel to Milan every two years, so I’m looking at the top European brands as inspiration. They are very aspirational, and the quality and detailing are excellent.
YLA: What values drive your work?
Anna: Respect is a value that drives my work. Respect for the material, customers, supply chain, and the people I work with.
YLA: As sustainability becomes central to design, how has it impacted your choice of materials, processes, or overall vision?
Anna: We design products that are meant to last a lifetime. Our intention is to always create pieces that are heirlooms and timeless, and therefore sustainable. The quality needs to be of excellence. Natural materials are a huge focus for us, so we are always using materials from the earth.
YLA: What would you say your personal style reveals about you?
Anna: Confidence, femininity, and expression. I want my clothes to show how strong I am, and that’s why I often wear black.
YLA: How do you see the future unfolding?
Anna: We want to take Weylandts global to make it an overarching lifestyle brand beyond physical products into experiences. One of the biggest projects we are working on right now is launching into the luxury hospitality space with retreats and boutique hotels. Our first three locations in The Karoo, Indonesia, and Cape Town will open in 2026.
