The fashion world said it couldn’t be done, wood is too heavy for handbags, too fragile for watches and “too” rustic for luxury.
At 35, Pfano Bebeda who runs AB Design, and hails from Tshandama in Vhembe District, proved them wrong.
A graduate in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Pfano applies both disciplines to his woodwork and steel sculptures.
He turns the following wood types: Kiaat, African Mahogany, Lead, Ebony, Matumi wood as well as steel into handbags, watches, pedestals, shelves, vases, lamps, sideboards and sculptures – all joined and built to last.
Each piece tells a forest story and wears like a quiet, divine encounter with nature.
“We use sustainable woods to ensure both beauty and environmental responsibility. Every piece of wood is carefully processed and polished to achieve a smooth, refined finish while presenting its natural character” he added.
Watches are also equipped with high – quality components for precise timekeeping. The combination of natural wood and modern watch components ensures a timepiece that is both stylish and long- lasting.
The results have travelled. AB Design showed at Decorex 2025 and Proudly South African 2025, crossed to IAF in Algeria and landed at ZITF in Zimbabwe. ‘Almost all the collection stole the show,” Pfano says.