Our process is slow on purpose. We visit workshops, talk to the makers, and check the materials before anything gets listed. This page explains the steps behind the directory and what you can expect from every entry.
We don't buy from catalogs or accept submissions. Every piece in the directory goes through the same route: a visit, a conversation, and a careful look at materials and making. Here's the path from workshop floor to your shortlist.
Our team spends two days a week in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, visiting independent workshops, flea markets and studio spaces. We look for makers who control their process from raw material to finished object, not resellers of imported goods.
We ask direct questions: where does the timber come from, what glaze is on this ceramic, is the weave natural or blended? If a maker can't name their supplier or describe the finish, the piece doesn't make the cut. This filters out most industrial replicas.
A dining table should handle hot plates, a woven runner should survive regular washing, a lamp should cast light without glare. We test pieces in real home conditions for two to three weeks before we write a single line about them.
Each listing includes the maker's background, the real materials used, an indicative price range and honest maintenance advice. We note limitations too, like a finish that needs re-oiling or a ceramic that shouldn't go in the dishwasher.
The catalog updates four times a year. We revisit every maker, confirm they're still active, check if materials or techniques have changed, and remove pieces that no longer meet our standards. What you see is always current.
Once a piece is listed, you can compare it against others in the same category, read the full maker context and decide if it fits your home. We don't sell directly, so you always deal with the artisan or their chosen outlet.
Want to see what this process has turned up lately?
Browse the latest seasonal picksWhether you are wondering how a piece gets verified, what happens when a maker updates their process, or how often the catalogue refreshes, the team behind Ongeto Living is reachable during working hours. We keep replies short and practical, and we route questions to the person who actually visited the workshop or market in question.
If you prefer to read first, the FAQ page covers the most common points about sourcing, condition notes and seasonal updates. For anything specific to an item you are comparing, writing to us directly usually gets you a faster answer.
The quickest way to ask about a specific listing, a maker's background or whether a piece can be shipped to your area. We usually reply within one working day.
info@ongeto.comFor time-sensitive matters, such as confirming whether a piece is still available before you travel to a market or studio.
+27 57 848 6062Email queries get a first reply within 24 hours on weekdays. Phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:00 South African time. If we need to check with a maker or revisit a workshop before answering, we will let you know the moment we have something concrete. We do not rush answers about authenticity or material condition, because those details matter more than speed.
Prefer to read first? The FAQ covers sourcing criteria, how condition notes are written and what seasonal updates mean for the catalogue.
Go to the FAQ page