The dismoi calabash light’s life story starts on a farm in the Kalahari where these vegetables, also known as calabash or gourds, are vine grown. Here they enjoy the country life for a couple of months and are nurtured and patiently left on the fields to mature and dry naturally. Once they achieve sundried perfection the calabashes are harvested and hollowed. The flesh of the vegetable is not fit for human or animal consumption but makes for excellent compost. The calabashes are now ready to trade their country life for the city and embark on a 2000 km journey to exquisite transformation.

It is here at the dismoi studio where these curvy vegetables undergo the metamorphosis from oh-dear to ooh-la-laa.

First up, is a good clean, and then the fun part starts… dreaming up the designs that will ultimately transform the calabash from vegetable to illuminating work of art. Once the designs are finalised the calabash undergoes some serious body piercing, and while some get a shiny white coat, others get a good buff. Finally the electrical bits and pieces are fitted and with the flick of a switch … tadaa… the slick, sexy and transformed calabash light is revealed, ready to light up any room.