Following the success of its inaugural Women in DIY Excellence Awards in 2024, Brights Hardware is proud to announce the return of the awards for a second year. The competition once again shines a spotlight on the creativity, determination, and talent of South African women who are transforming homes, commercial properties, communities, and industries through DIY, renovations, sustainability, and social impact projects.
Entries are now open
Brights is calling on women across South Africa to share their stories and projects or to nominate someone whose work deserves the spotlight. Whether you’re a home makeover maestro, a fearless furniture builder, a queen of upcycling, a sustainability trailblazer, or a community DIY champion if crafting, restoring, reimagining, and transforming are your thing, it’s time to shine.
A Platform for Passion and Purpose
The 2025 awards celebrate women whose ongoing work, creativity, and commitment are making a real impact, whether in their homes, communities, or the wider world of DIY. Projects of all kinds, big or small, practical or decorative, personal or public, are encouraged.
To help guide and inspire entries, Brights highlights three key themes that reflect the heart of the movement:
- DIY, Home Décor & Renovation Projects – Recognising women who consistently use their hands-on skills and creativity to reimagine and improve their spaces.
- Sustainability, Upcycling & Restoration Efforts – Celebrating those who are committed to green practices, breathing new life into old materials, and promoting conscious living through their ongoing work.
- Community & Social Impact Projects – Honouring women who are using their DIY talents as a force for good, beautifying shared spaces, empowering others, or uplifting their communities in lasting ways.
The competition is open to all women, whether full-time makers, side-hustlers, hobbyists, or volunteers. Entrants can nominate themselves or be nominated by others.
How to Enter
Entries should take the form of a short letter or written submission, sharing the story behind the work. Whether it’s a long-standing passion for transforming spaces, a commitment to sustainable crafting, or a series of community-driven DIY initiatives.
Submissions should include:
- A written overview that tells the story of what inspires the work, how it began, and the journey so far
- Good-quality images or links to social media showing examples of the projects
- Contact details for the entrant or nominee
- Entries can be submitted directly or on behalf of someone else. All submissions must be sent via email to brights@brights.co.za by 30 September 2025.
Three winners will be selected, each receiving a R5,000 Brights voucher and a product hamper worth R5,000 —a total prize value of R10,000 per winner—to help fuel their next creative project.
“Through these awards, we not only want to acknowledge the inspiring work being done by women, but also encourage more women to pick up the tools, follow their passion, and break down the stereotypes that still linger in the DIY and hardware space,” adds Orlando Luis, CEO of Brights Hardware. “We are committed to creating a more inclusive and empowering environment both within our stores and across our communities.”
That commitment is reflected in the Brights team itself, where women make up a growing and powerful force within the business. Many have risen through the ranks into leadership and managerial roles, helping to shape the customer experience and drive innovation across the stores. Their dedication, knowledge, and leadership are not only an asset to Brights but an inspiration to the next generation of women in the hardware and DIY industry.
For inspiration, visit your nearest Brights Hardware store. The online store at www.brights.co.za offers delivery across South Africa, including express delivery in the Western Cape for online purchases.
