About Us
ABOUT NONA INTERNATIONAL
We Are Building South
Africa's Most Trusted
Destination for Modern
Dining Design.
HOW IT BEGAN
A Store Built on One Conviction.
Nona International began with a simple observation: South Africa had access to some of the world’s finest tableware designers, yet no single destination brought them together with the editorial intent they deserved.
The founding team; buyers, designers and lifelong collectors; set out to change that. Every brand in the Nona International collection was sourced through direct relationships with their makers.
“We would rather carry twenty objects that are extraordinary than two hundred that are merely available.”
THE CURATION PHILOSOPHY
“Does This Belong?”
Not “Where Does This Come From?”
Our buying process begins with a single question; not of origin or price point, but of fit. Does this piece belong on a Nona table? Does it hold its own against everything else we carry?
That standard applies equally to a R180 side plate and a R2 400 serving bowl. It is not about price; it is about whether an object has the quiet authority to elevate the moment it is placed in.
THE NONA INTERNATIONAL PROMISE
Fewer, Better Objects.
Honest Provenance
We know who makes every piece; the studio, the designer, the process. We share that knowledge freely.
Considered Editing
New brands join only when they pass the same standard as everything we already carry; not because they are new, but because they are right.
Long-Term Availability
Every piece we carry is available consistently; so you can complete a set two years after you started it.
WHAT NONA INTERNATIONAL IS
A carefully edited selection of the world’s most considered tableware designers, brought together under one roof in South Africa.
A team that understands the difference between a dinner plate that works and one that transforms the meal. A buying practice that prioritises long-term availability over seasonal newness.
A belief that South African homes, restaurants and hotels deserve access to the same calibre of table design available in London, Copenhagen and Milan.
WHAT NONA INTERNATIONAL IS NOT
A mass retailer, a marketplace, or a catalogue of everything available. We are not here to offer the widest selection — we are here to offer the right one.
We do not carry a brand because it is popular. We do not discontinue a product because it is not trending. We do not add to a shelf unless we are certain it earns its place.
We are not a trend destination. We are a permanence one.
THE DESIGNER COLLABORATION MODEL
We Buy From Makers,
Not Distributors.
Every brand is sourced through a direct relationship with the studio, the designer or the founding team. We do not use intermediaries, and we do not carry brands we have not visited in person.
This means our buyers understand the intent behind each collection and can pass that knowledge to every customer who asks.
“Every object on a Nona International shelf has been chosen because someone believed it would make your table measurably better.”
BRAND VOICE PRINCIPLES
How We Speak,
and Why It Matters.
Precise
We use the correct name for every piece, technique and material. A matte glaze is not ‘neutral’. A low bowl is not a ‘serving dish’.
Considered
We never oversell. The objects speak for themselves; our role is to provide the context that allows a customer to understand why something is worth having.
Direct
We write as we speak in-store: informed, warm, unhurried. We do not use marketing language. We show you why, instead of telling you to feel something.
LONGEVITY OVER TREND
Buying Once,
Buying Well.
The most sustainable purchase is the one you never have to make again. That is the principle behind every buying decision at Nona International; objects selected not for seasonal relevance, but for the kind of permanence that makes them worth passing on.
We do not retire collections because something newer arrived. We carry objects that were designed to be useful, beautiful and structurally sound for decades; and we carry them consistently, so a set started in 2024 can still be completed in 2030.
“Objects made to last. That is the most sustainable thing we know.”
PACKAGING
Minimal, Recyclable
and Gift-Ready.
All Nona packaging is designed around three principles: minimal material, maximum protection, and considered presentation that makes it appropriate as a gift without additional wrapping.
We use kraft and recycled board throughout. Tissue, ribbon and filler are recyclable or compostable. Plastics are used only where no structural alternative exists.
SUPPLIER STANDARDS
Ethical Compliance
Across Our Supply Chain.
Serax
Operates under EU environmental and labour directives from Waregem. All packaging FSC-certified. Carbon reporting in dialogue.
ASA Selection
European sourcing ensures REACH chemical standard compliance across all glazes and materials. Supply chain transparency reporting in progress.
Our Commitment
All new brands must provide documented compliance on materials, labour and packaging. This page updates as certifications are confirmed.
Note: Some figures on this page are placeholder; we are actively gathering verified data from our supply chain and will update as confirmed.
EXPLORE THE RANGE
A Collection Built
to Last a Lifetime.
Every piece chosen to be lived with, not stored away.