About Us
Our Story - how it all began
My husband and I (Philip & Karen) are proudly South African. After living and working in Cayman Islands, Scotland and London for 15 years, we came to realise and deeply cherish our beautiful country, its consistent sunshine, its talented people and their values.
We worked our fair share of exhausting hours in corporate and investment finance in London, juggling demanding corporate hours and striving to establish our own ecommerce business. We found solace in holidays, seizing every available chance to travel and explore the world.
It all began with a burning desire to explore the farthest reaches of the world, not merely as tourists, but as passionate seekers of cultural richness and artistic marvels. Setting foot on foreign soil, we were immediately captivated by the vibrant kaleidoscope of cultures that make our planet so diverse and awe-inspiring.
Their history, their lives, their cultures and values
engulfed us.
We found ourselves immersed in the lives of people who possessed an innate ability to transform raw materials into exquisite works of art. It was the beginning of a shared passion for interior design and unique home décor.
These experiences led us to a decision to leave the crazy rat race life and relocate back to South Africa. We were blessed with beautiful children and the opportunity to design and build our dream home.
An experience that gave me an opportunity to live my wildest creativity and inspiration, pushing me beyond boundaries of what one can even think is possible or can actually achieve. I fearlessly set my mind to every idea I had and to just do it regardless of what others told me was possible or not.
Ever since, I had this constant burning passion inside me to design, build and source unique, beautiful furniture and home décor pieces, so naturally Jabali Oak was born.
I’ve employed my lifetime passion for needlework and designing beautiful things. I’ve spent a further 2 years learning and building unique furniture as well as home décor pieces with my own hands and a talented team.
Through this process, I forged connections with artisans and craftspeople in South Africa and other countries. These encounters have allowed me to witness age-old techniques and traditions and bring them to South Africa, encapsulating the essence of these cultures in every piece we curate.
exceptionally
HANDCRAFTED
Each creation is a labour of love
Every product in our collection tells a story, a story of the hands that meticulously carved, painted, or stitched, and the hearts that poured passion into their creation. It’s not just a story of creating the same product over and over again, until you find the same piece in almost every house you walk into, but rather one of striving to offer our clients something more exclusive and unique.