New life for old wheels: Craftsmen turn bicycles into stylish furniture

Every week, African Start-Up follows entrepreneurs in various countries across the continent to see how they are working to make their business dreams become reality.

Story highlights

Ojey's Designs specializes in making modern furniture from old bicycle parts

Launched in 2012, the business lists bars, hotels and restaurants as clients

Click through the gallery to see the Kenyan startup's creations

CNN  — 

For many, bicycles are meant solely as a mode of transportation, a quick and convenient way of getting from A to B. In Kenya’s capital city of Nairobi, however, a group of craftsmen take the functionality of bicycles a step further – by transforming them into eye-catching modern furniture.

From its spacious 5th-floor apartment overlooking Nairobi, Ojey’s Designs is a business fashioning elaborate chairs and tables out of old bike parts – from rims and tires to spokes and pedals, the different parts are all welded together to form the base of the contemporary furnitire.

“We do the bar stools, the bar tables,” says Martin Ojwang, the startup’s founder. “We do chairs, the cafe chairs and cafe tables – those ones can go to the hotels.”

CNN

Read this: Old boat sails turned into uplifting art

Having worked as an accountant for three years, the young entrepreneur decided to change career paths in 2012 after crafting his first creation: a beautiful coffee table made from a bicycle rim.

Ojwang then quit his job and set up shop in the large balcony of his apartment where he’s now making furniture on order.

“When we started Ojey’s Designs I was alone and then I employed some two people for assisting,” says Ojwang. “Right now, we actually have four employees and we have four casual workers who come when the production is high.”

Click through the gallery above to see Ojwang’s creations and check out the video below to find out more about Ojey Designs.

spc african start up ojeys designs limited_00023330.jpg
Bicycles transformed into trendy furniture
02:45 - Source: CNN

Read this: Old boat sails turned into uplifting art

Read this: From flip-flops to rubber masterpieces

Related