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Written byHannah Mitchell
“I was suddenly surrounded by a whole bunch of creatives and I definitely think this was a turning point for me. As I grew and became more and more self-aware, I realised that there was a creative gremlin inside me that needed to be fed, in order for me to actually be happy, really happy.”
It’s safe to say we’ve firmly entered the era of vibrant maximalism and funky patterns reminiscent of the 60s and 90s. It’s not just evident in fashion, however – but in almost all aspects of creative expression. Leigh Garrett, founder of the vivacious homeware brand Humble Jungle Home, is a pioneer in creating dreamy trinkets and whimsical interior design pieces that make your home as groovy as can be.
I first stumbled across Humble Jungle whilst browsing Instagram for inspiration on how to liven up my somewhat chaotic, chronically messy room. I needed a statement piece. And not just any bit of homeware – I needed something so aesthetically pleasing it would make my laundry pile seem shabby-chic. And there was Humble Jungle Home, their feed a warm hug of pastels and shapes. Don’t worry – I soon realised that it would be quite the disservice to Leigh’s art to place it in my little hovel.
For Leigh, Humble Jungle Home is a long-time dream realised through years of finding her feet in the creative world. She was always an artist at heart – growing up in Durban with her two outdoorsy sisters, Leigh found her passion growing from a young age: “They would go surfing and I would stay at home and make art.” Her early-sprouted seed of creativity continued to blossom as she went to the UK to explore the music scene and fashion styling. But after seven years overseas, she realised that the nepotism in the fashion industry wasn’t the right fit for her – and came back to South Africa, eventually planting her roots in Cape Town.
“Humble Jungle is all about small, curated collections – the type of slow, sustainable products that we at the CCC adore.”
“When I moved to Cape Town, I was suddenly surrounded by a whole bunch of creatives and I definitely think this was a turning point for me. As I grew and became more and more self-aware, I realised that there was a creative gremlin inside me that needed to be fed, in order for me to actually be happy, really happy,” she notes. After finding work in the travel industry, Leigh’s life quite drastically changed when COVID-19 hit, and she lost her job.
But, in a true creative fashion, she persisted – using her challenges to her advantage: “It was time for me to take control of my own destiny so this is when I began focusing on fulfilling my long lost dream of opening an online store.”
And so, Humble Jungle Home was created – in part due to Leigh’s adoration for the “quirky, feminine and creative home décor DIY trend that started at the beginning of COVID-19.” She mentions that once people were forced into their homes for extended periods of time, they needed and wanted to make their spaces both look and feel better. And, of course, colour is a brilliant vessel for encouraging certain emotions.
Leigh’s interest in creating and curating pieces was not just about colour and patterns – despite the influence it has on her artistic process. It also became about discovering how this new, niche market was forming. “Through my research, I discovered the amazing world of eco-resin, and at first I wanted to just sell my own eco-resin designs, but I saw so many local people popping up on Instagram that were making artistic handmade stuff, as a creative outlet, and most of them to also make some extra cash because, like me, a lot of people lost their jobs and needed a source of income. I decided I wanted to support these other new small businesses by selling their creations, too.”
‘I am inspired by the psychology of colour, and how colour impacts human emotions and behaviour. We associate different colours with different emotions and even make decisions based on colour. I am specifically inspired by playful, feminine and intriguing colour combinations.’
Eco-resins, a group of polymer resins that are non-toxic, solvent-free or renewable, are a staple in Leigh’s artistic toolbox. These form the basis for her trinket trays, coasters, planters and candle holders: “It is so versatile compared to other similar materials and you can make really vibrantly coloured and unique pieces using it.” This flexibility allows Leigh to play around with colour to her hearts’ content: “I am inspired by the psychology of colour, and how colour impacts human emotions and behaviour. We associate different colours with different emotions and even make decisions based on colour. I am specifically inspired by playful, feminine and intriguing colour combinations.”
Humble Jungle Home has been a hit because it embraces the unconventional – Leigh noticed that the most unique items were selling the best. It appeared that the market was wide open for those looking for playful décor. But there’s not really a point to mass-producing the unorthodox. Humble Jungle is all about small, curated collections – the type of slow, sustainable products that we at the CCC adore.
The future is bright for this homeware brand – since being stocked at We Are EGG, the exposure and opportunities have been a boost of confidence for Leigh and her work. She’s currently planning an out-of-the-box, never-been-done-before collection: “I don’t want to give away too much – let’s keep it a surprise! – but think curvy and wavy shapes.” And beyond her collection, Leigh intends to keep Humble Jungle as a platform for the unconventional artists, especially other small businesses who struggled through lockdown. It’s a platform indicative of the camaraderie and boost of creative expression that COVID-19 fostered. We can’t wait to see what Humble Jungle blossoms into.
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