Decorating & Design
Shops We Love: Bespoke Binny’s Vibrant Prints Are The Ultimate Mood Booster
Published on January 25, 2021
It all started when Natalie Manima took her first sewing class in 2009. She used her newfound skills to make items for her home, like aprons and pillows, with a maximalist sensibility. Friends and family members would often compliment Natalie on her colorful creations and encourage her to sell them. So, she started her business, Bespoke Binny, in 2013 dedicated to African-printed homewares ranging from tableware to travel accessories. “Binny is a nickname from my Ghanaian middle name Obenewa,” explains Natalie.
Vibrant and colorful designs are Natalie’s hallmark. “Bright colors never fail to put a smile on my face,” she says. “They make my home feel warm, comfy and inviting. My choice to use African prints in my designs was all about uplifting others and my own mood.”
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Aprons and oven mitts are Bespoke Binny’s best-selling products. “I am really inspired by the idea of trying to make functional products look beautiful,” says Natalie.
Natalie has also become known for her vibrant lampshades. “I love thinking about which fabrics would look best on a lampshade and then making one from start to finish and seeing the end result,” she explains.
Her lampshades are bold and unique, and can completely transform the look of a room. “That’s exactly what the essence of Bespoke Binny is all about,” says Natalie. “The design process of my lampshades is one of my favorite parts of running [my business].”
During the pandemic, Natalie began offering online workshops to teach her customers how to make their own lampshades. “People were bored at home during lockdowns and wanted to learn new skills,” she says. The classes have since become a popular item from her online store.
“I had always toyed with the idea of running classes before the pandemic, but then when lockdown came, I thought now was as good a time as any, and just adapted it to online,” says Natalie. She sends a kit with all of the essentials to your doorstep and guides you through a step-by-step tutorial. The workshop and kit costs about $62.
Bespoke Binny’s hot water bottle covers are a fun way to bring life and warmth to cold winter days.
If you’re new to decorating with African prints, Natalie suggests thinking about them as any other print. “Don’t focus on the fact that they are African prints, as I think for some people that can create a mental block,” she says. “We often decorate with color and pattern, and this is absolutely no different.”
One of Natalie’s favorite parts of her job is seeing photos of products in her customers’ homes. “It’s the best feeling in the world,” she says. “Nothing makes me happier than seeing people enjoying and sharing the products I have created.”