Why we registered and retained Damasque almost 20 years ago, and continue to trade as Olàlà!
In the early 90’s, our trade was infested with fly-by-night and closet-decorators and designers, many highly qualified. At the time when I started the business, there were many unscrupulous and self-enriching designers who would disappear with the client’s and suppliers’ valuables, antiques and hard-earned monies, leaving distraught and disappointed people in their wake. Sometimes it seems as if few things have changed. When looking for a name for my new business, I specifically looked for an “ageless” name with nobility. Wool, linen, silk and pure cottons were considered “Noble” fabrics, nobility was what I wanted to offer our clients, a sure knowledge that they will receive what they paid for, that suppliers would be paid, and that creative yet integrative business would be celebrated for many years to come.
One of my early life mentors, was a teacher, Emmarentia van Loggerenberg, who taught French at Helpmekaar Meisies Hoër, where I matriculated. Damask was given the French post-fix “que”, spelling Damasque, and the business was born. 10 Years into the business, things change – as they do. Design and palettes favoured clean, neutral, uncluttered spaces, and as any progressive and forward thinking business, a fresh approach was required. After a serious brainstorming session accompanied with a lovely, chilled Sauvignon Blanc, Irma and myself unanimously decided that we certainly don’t want descriptive words like “classy” or “designer”, cause if you couldn’t see it without having to name it, it probably wasn’t. We wanted a word that people exclaimed upon entering our spaces.....(other than “hallelujah!!!” - I really still do love Handel’s Messiah). After a few ridiculous utterances, which included word play and other less acceptable versions, we got it! On that lovely autumn afternoon, in a beautiful garden, olàlà! was born and we loved it the minute it was loosely handwritten on a serviette at Kaputzis in Linden......
Although Olala! has been registered with CIPRO, we have retained Damasque as our founding name, to remind us of our intentions, mission, goals and objectives.
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