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Rooted in Place, Made to Last
Ballo Ambassador Stories from Cape Point
There’s a certain clarity that comes from working close to the land. Wind-scoured coastlines. Poor soils. Fire-prone landscapes. Nothing unnecessary survives here - only what is resilient, purposeful and well made.
For Ballo, that philosophy resonates deeply.
In Cape Point, we spent time with two ambassadors whose lives are shaped by this environment every day: Tom of Good Hope Gardens Nursery and Roushanna of Veld and Sea. Their work - with indigenous plants, edible landscapes and immersive learning - reflects the same values that guide Ballo’s approach to design: durability, intention and a deep respect for place.
Tom
Working With What Belongs
Tom’s understanding of indigenous landscapes is not academic - it’s lived. It started at home, shaped by family and necessity.
“Well I have had the benefit and guidance of growing up with my mother who has long been promoting "indigenous". Also living in Cape Point with very poor soils one has to learn what can actually grow and survive. But I think more importantly over the last 10 to 15 years it has become apparent how many people grow and sell plants that are indigenous to South Africa but we have to realise how diverse South Africa is and start to recognise plants from within much smaller regions and try to promote our (hyper)local plants from our immediate surroundings that were there before any development.”
That hyper-local mindset extends beyond plants - into how Tom builds spaces. His glasshouse classroom, constructed from salvaged materials, evolved slowly and organically, shaped by real use rather than rigid plans.
“Ya that was an organic creation one might say. When we had my sister’s wedding down in that space we had a huge Bedouin style tent over the space and we saw the potential and the vision was born.
After months of collecting all and any windows and doors we could scrounge from friends/builders/scrapyards etc we built the walls and erected the tent on top - as the first iteration of the roof. After about 18 months the tent had been stretched thin by the elements and we had to build a more permanent roof that it has now. It's a lovely light space and is perfect for events and dinners, in Winter we have a small fire place to heat it up and Summer we have fans that can help create a breeze if there is no wind.”
Craft, Resilience & Fire
Working with indigenous landscapes means learning humility - especially in a place shaped by fire.
“Well there are many but I would say that plant selection is where people need the most guidance, unfortunately most plant suppliers don't sell area specific (local) plants and so people actually can't find proper local plants even if they so wish.”
Fire, for Tom, is not an anomaly - it’s a constant presence and teacher.
“I think it was 2017, and don't forget the last big one in 2023 just before Christmas (definitely our most destructive one we have faced). Well basically the plants and the environment are designed to deal with fire and so long as the fires are not close in succession - nature will recover. But everything we do, make or build will probably not withstand a fire and probably will not recover after the fire unless we rebuild it.
Fire has taught us (and will continue to) teach us every time we experience it, it is part of this landscape and we have to be as prepared as possible...all the time.”
This reality - that nature adapts, while human-made objects must be carefully chosen - shapes Tom’s approach to everything from gardens to eyewear.
Ballo in the Landscape
Long days outdoors demand clarity, comfort and durability - qualities Ballo designs for intentionally.
“For me I am always looking for durability and comfort (on my face but also for my eyes) these new plant acetate frames are so solid and the lenses are so easy on the eyes while still cooling the harsh glares and importantly allowing me to see my phone screen with ease. But apparently I should not loose them in the garden as they will decompose 😅🤣.”
Tom’s personal style mirrors his work ethic: straightforward, unpretentious, built to last.
“Comfort and durability first and then a lekker easy style - as you say unpretentious! 🤩🙏”
Roushanna
Finding Home Through Flavour
For Roushanna, objects and landscapes are containers of memory and meaning.
“So many things - I’m drawn to objects with a story: handmade pieces and second-hand treasures. One wearable art example I hold close to my heart is a lino print shirt my parents made.”
Her journey into foraging began not with expertise, but with curiosity - and a desire to understand belonging.
“I am Capetonian born, raised and rooted, and moved out to settle in Cape Point 20 years ago. I have a mixed multicultural heritage and it has always been important to understand who I am on this land, and what this place and space tastes like – the edible species, history of land, people and plants and the ecological stories surrounding the wild flavours that shift and change through the seasons…”
Through this intersection of food, art and ecology, Veld and Sea was born - a space where learning is embodied, sensory and deeply personal.
Learning Slowly, Paying Attention
A single flavour can hold centuries of history.
“A local citrus buchu – sweet, aromatic and filled with a flavour both alive and ancient at the same time. The first time I experienced it in a cup of tea, it was like a remembering of a home I had not yet met.”
Roushanna’s approach to learning mirrors Ballo’s philosophy of thoughtful design - slow, deliberate and respectful.
“My process is slow and relational. Cross referencing is key when it comes to identifying a plant species you are not familiar with…”
She reads the land through subtle seasonal shifts many people miss.
“The landscape shares stories and small cues from nature can signal a shift in season…”
Style That Holds Story
At Veld and Sea, beauty is not decorative - it’s instructional.
“Learning and retaining new information happens easier when you are in a safe, welcoming and nurturing environment…”
And her personal style reflects that same layered, tactile sensibility.
“Earthy, textural, ocean inspired, with room for play. I love thrift store finds, handmade ceramics, storied pieces, found and foraged treasure from nature. That’s what feels like home to me.”
Why This Matters to Ballo
Ballo designs eyewear for people who are deeply engaged with the world around them - people who value clarity, longevity and meaning over excess. Like indigenous landscapes and wild food systems, the best things are made slowly, thoughtfully and with respect for where they belong.
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