Some flowy prettiness by design duo Lauren du Plessis and Bailey Allison to start off the year. I discovered Avant in the January issue of Fairlady. The duo had their first collection at Jo’burg Fashion Week in February 2011 and they were nominated for an AFI Emerging Fashion Designer of the Year.
You can contact them at avantapparel@gmail.com or find their lovely pieces at Egality in Parkhurst, Johannesburg.
Photography by JP Hanekom
Make-up: Kaschka Aronson
94 is lovely brand of handcrafted bags that offer training and create employment for ladies in the Port Elizabeth area.
“The 94 Store currently employs 3 woman from Walmer Township on a part time basis. Over the past year, Nora, Lucy and Trudy have learned a number of skills, including sewing and beading and are now working together as a team to produce the quality hand crafted bags that are for sale in the 94 online store.“ (Prices are in Dollars, but you can contact them to find out what the local prices are).
The talented young Amy Scheepers, who I regularly feature, has teamed up with young fashion designer Natalie Creed to produce this beautiful shoot. You can read my previous chat with Amy here.
I asked Natalie a few questions
Where did you study?
Studied Fashion Design (BTech Degree) at NMMU
Future plans?
Future plans… I’m taking things one step at a time, but there is already so much going on. I want to grow the business gradually and eventually reach a point where I can travel the world to visit all my stockists!
Designers who inspire you?
I try not to be inspired by designers as such, I prefer to look to non-fashion sources for inspiration. But if I had to choose my favourite three it would be Anna Molinari, Karl Lagerfeld and John Galliano. They’re all very different, but I love the femininity that all of them bring to the table.
Thanks Natalie and Amy!
For some more swoon-worthy photography check out http://amyscheepers.blogspot.com/ and http://amyscheepers.com/
If you’d like to order any of the clothes (like this cute outfit below) you can email Natalie: info@nataliecreed.com
models: Kristi Marie Pretorius & Chloe Munton
clothing: Natalie Creed
photographer: Amy Scheepers
When I first saw The Cake League‘s new “Sielsgesiggies” range I felt a bit faint. If I were in a Jane Austen novel I would drop my hanky and press the back of my hand against my forehead whilst my gentleman caller rushed forward to help me to the settee. But I’m not, I’m in Jo’burg and if I drop anything my dogs will chew it.
So there were no theatrics, just a quick email to our next talented Port Elizabeth(eans) Nicholas and Grace Galuszynski. Over to them:
“Almost exactly 1 year ago in little windy Port Elizabeth where fokall happens, we (brother and sister undergrad and postgrad design students, Nicholas and Grace Galuszynski) were hard-up for cash to
fund our ‘creative interests’ and prevent an impending death of sheer boredom.
We had an idea to unite our drawings with laser beams and chains to create the magical spice that everyone needs around their neck spaces… with a maximum of 3 of each design being produced because,
obviously, individual selfness is of utmost importance to us.
Since then, we have fully funded our initial ‘creative interests’ and now use all our profits to develop our skill sets as alchemists of creative expression (Sielsgesiggies is the 3rd range). Now we have moved up from the Kraal at uni and are throwing a tea party with Sliced Bread Gallery and Silver Spoon Clothing who stock our once-offs or one-of-threes complete with poem and illustration per piece (you can also e-mail kamila.grace@gmail.com or find us on Facebook).
PS: Why brass? We wanted to use copper (80% used in the world is recycled, plus it’s antimicrobial) but no-one in P.E has a water-jet cutting device, so we settled for industrial grade sheets of the
alloy.”
Thanks Nicholas and Grace! Check out Grace’s blog http://missbergie.blogspot.com/ or join the Cake League’s Facebook page.
I’m going to be focusing on some creative talent from Port Elizabeth in some upcoming posts starting with the talented Stephanie Beyers and Dieter van den Bergh who started Silver Spoon in 2008. The two studied Fashion Design at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and they’ve been showing at SA Fashion Week since 2009.
“We like beautiful things. So a while back, in April 2008, we decided to make our own. Silver Spoon is a line that makes us happy. A quaint place to channel everything we’ve learnt. We make functional pieces with character; things you could wear to the market. Or the park. Or a visit to your distant aunt for your usual cup of tea. It’s you, with a touch of thread and fabric thrown in for good measure. And its lovely to meet you.”
Silver Spoon supplies 25 stores nationwide so there are plenty of places to get your hands on one of their pretty designs.
Check out their website or join the Silver Spoon Facebook page to stay posted.
Model: Frances van Jaarsveldt
I recently received one of those emails that just make your week. No not the one where I was told I have a distant cousin in Lagos who’s left me an obscene amount of money and all she needs is my banking details, ID number and pin code in order to transfer the money, it was simply a link to a blog. I immediately thought of that terrible, terrible, terrible R&B song, “Kiss me through the phone,” because I wanted to give this person a virtual hug through the internet. (I’m currently working on the lyrics of my R&B debut single, “Hug me through the internet”. It’s gonna be big).
After my virtual hug was over I immediately contacted the talented Mariet Vosloo from the delightful Kittens with Mittens to tell us more about her handsome fur kids and her handmade label Poncho. Over to Mariet.
I share a home with two gorgeous cats, Bobby and Snoekie, a beautiful puppy named Morris and two awesome guys, Rouleaux (my boyfriend) and Andries. The guys and I met while studying at the Stellenbosch Academy of Design and Photography and then ended up living together in Cape Town. It’s really great to have two creative people around whose opinions I value. They keep me motivated and are always keen to share ideas.
My love for handmade things started when I was little. My mom was constantly busy making cool things and always involved my sister and I in her crafty projects.
Embroidery soon became a passion which led to me starting my own label, Poncho. I’m crazy about animals, especially my own furkids who are my main source of inspiration.
My brooches are very detailed and take many hours to complete, so I never have a lot of pieces available and therefore don’t stock any shops. I do however have a little shop section on my blog and also love doing custom orders.
http://kittens-with-mittens.blogspot.com/
Thanks Mariet!
I love the Selfi Spring/Summer 2012 collection more than candyfloss, rainbows, misty country roads, soft-focus photos of baby donkeys and Danish films with obscure endings.
“A Fashion Design Graduate of Cape Peninsula University of Technology in 2007, Celeste Lee Arendse started Selfi in 2009 in Cape Town, South Africa. After working for Malcom Kluk and CGDT in 2008 she became a Elle New talent finalist in 2009 and from there ventured into creating her own brand.
Inspired by architecture, forms and patterns in nature, each garment is designed to represent an innovative twist toward existing women’s apparel.”
If you like it as much as I like it, why don’t you, like, go on and like the Selfi Facebook Page.
The oh so pretty Selfi website http://www.selfi.co.za/
Check out the stockists HERE.
Happiness is owning a beautiful leather handbag that’s been handmade in Gansbaai. Leanda Trautman taught herself to sew, bought an industrial sewing machine and started Happiness Handbags from their farm in Gansbaai. She tells us her inspiring little tale.
Where are you from?
What can I tell you… I’m originally from Houtbay, about 2 years ago my husband and I moved from Cape Town to Gansbaai. Gansbaai is a very small fisherman’s village 40min drive from Hermanus and there isn’t much work around here. I studied Industrial Design at Cape Tech because I love working with my hands as well as with natural materials. I’ve always been one for a challenge, and so, with a love for leather, I made the craziest decision to make leather handbags. And so in October 09 I bought my first industrial sewing machine.
How did you get started?
As I mentioned I didn’t have any sewing skills, so patience was key… I started at home just pushing through long pieces of material, and soon after that I made my first bag called the Peace Bag. Over the years the collection has grown to over 10 styles and has expanded to bags, brooches, belts, dog collars and so many more ideas. Two years later my product was perfected and I moved into my own studio on our family farm just outside Gansbaai… very peaceful and a lot of space!
Where can we buy your bags?
Unfortunately I don’t sell my handbags anywhere currently, as I work on an order basis, this just gives people the freedom to ‘create’ their own bag. They get to chose their style, leather colour, 100% floral cotton inner, and additional decoration. I work alone so my stock never gets time to grow, and the ones that I have just end up in my studio cupboards. I’m also busy creating a website for Happiness, which would be live by the beginning of next year, very excited about that!
Any advice for artisans starting their own lines?
If I could give advice to fellow artisans, that would be to believe in your product, love your product and to remember patience is very important. Your own business takes a lot of time and energy, but once you see someone walking around with your product, loving it, that’s when all that hard work pays off!!
Thanks Leanda!
Have a look at the Happiness Handbags Facebook page for more info.
The much loved SA brand with the fantastic name is back with some beautiful new pieces. Check out our previous post on Marietjie and Rory HERE.
Join their Facebook Page HERE or check out their blog http://eendagopnreendag.blogspot.com/
Dress Two Two summer collection
Deer Ring Vamp
Floral Jacket, Polka dot Blouse, Pleated Midi Skirt Jane Sews
Pussycat cha-ching bag Missibaba
Georgette pleated dress Mr and Ms
Geometric necklace by Skermunkil
I discovered the beautiful French Seam Project via Art South Africa and I just fell in love with everything the project stands for:
THE FRENCH SEAM PROJECT encourages a slowed-down approach to clothing. Behind every garment is a thought process and there is a reason for every detail – the choice of fabric, the use of a zip or a button.
Quality of fabric & craftsmanship, attention to detail and integrity of design are the roots of THE FRENCH SEAM PROJECT, the aim being to return to the elegance, sophistication and thoughtfulness that our grandmothers took as a given, but that is so often lacking in our own time.
I immediately contacted the owner Jacqueline Nurse who told Handsome Things more about the shop, its philosophy, the designers and the art of the French Seam.
The project’s name.
A French seam is one in which the raw edges of the fabric are completely enclosed by sewing them together first on the right side and then on the wrong. Before the advent of the overlocker this was an effective way to finish raw edges, but is quite labour intensive. It requires the seamstress to fold over and press the first seam in order to sew the second. An overlocker, however, finished the edges in one go after the straight seam has been sewn. Hence, it’s become the much more popular way to go about things these days.
The reason why I chose to use this as a name for the project is that, as an analogy, it fits quite nicely into what I’m trying to do – which is to encourage a slowed-down and more thoughtful approach to clothing in general. And to focus attention on the role of each item of clothing in shaping a person’s identity, however eclectic.
The lady behind the project.
I come from an arts background, so it’s in that arena that the roots of the project (and my thinking) can be found. Having studied English and Art History at Rhodes University, I threw myself headlong into a curatorial and arts writing career. Through this process I’ve developed a keen interest in the ways that we construct our identities like narratives, and the importance of the clothes that we wear as little paragraphs or chapters, if you will, in our stories. In my mind it is not so big a jump from what I have been doing in the arts to what I’m starting to do on the outskirts of the fashion arena.
We featured talented fine artist Bronwen Vaughn-Evans a few posts back and this time we’re looking at her and Sam Schwarer’s whimsical brand Hey Cherry. They’re based in Durbs and you can catch them at the wonderful I heart Market.
Sam and I formed HEYCHERRY as a fun outlet for ideas that we have outside of our day jobs. We are close friends and moms of children who are best friends, so we see each other often and always land up chatting about new ideas we wish we had time to execute.
I am a bit of a techo recluse (luddite) while Sam is great at media management, so she does most of our publicity (although I do blog posts from time to time).
If people want to purchase our products (they are posted under the products heading on our blog + prices) they should just email us on sam@heycherry.co.za and/or bron@heycherry.co.za. depending on who makes what. Potential clients can do a simple EFT and the product they want will be posted to them.
I am a fine artist (see www.vaughan-evans.co.za) by trade. I lecture part-time in the Fine Art Department of the Durban University of Technology, exhibit my work nationally (and a little internationally) and I make knick-knacks for our stall at the I HEART MARKET.
I love contemporary South African art, vintage children’s toys and books and all things contemporary craft. I am inspired by the wonderful creative people around me. People like Paul Edmunds (and his wife Heather Moore), Greg Streak, Andries Botha and Dee Donaldson are friends who inspire me to take my craft seriously, to do things beautifully whatever field I am working in. The wonderful makers at the I HEART MARKET (cupcake couture, savage jewellery, token ceramics, whimsy, and ikyaha to name a few) are also a great source of inspiration.
Have a look at their blog Hey Cherry.
Thanks Sam & Bronwen!
It’s Smith Jewellery’s first birthday today (hiep hiep) and you can walk away with one of Anna’s beautiful handmade sterling silver animal pins. All you have to do is like the Smith Jewellery Facebook page and write on her wall which handsome animal you’d like to adopt. We’ll announce the winner next Monday.
Meet Anna Raimondo the designer behind Smith jewellery.
I was born and bred in CT and from an early age I was exposed to beautiful music, clothes and crafts by my mother and grandmothers. I fell into jewellery design by accident at Stellenbosch University (was originally going to do a journalism degree) and found that not only did I enjoy it, but was kind of good at it too. While in my final year at Stellies I applied (and got accepted) for a scholarship at the Richemont Group’s school of design in Milan. The course was a one year ‘Master in Design’ and focused on accessory design for luxury market. After finishing my studies at the Creative Academy, I then completed an intense three-month internship as a designer for the world-renowned fashion brand Chloe, working in their leather department in Milan.
After that I spent the next two years working and traveling in and around the UK and Australia. I tried many things from working for a small jewellery company to telesales to marketing, but the need to return home and start my own thing grew.
As part of an ongoing collaboration between Mohair South Africa and the international trend forecaster Li Edelkoort, a special stand and seminars were created at this year’s Spinexpo that took place in New York last week — It presented a innovative look at craft as never seen before.
“Knitting, breading, fringing and pom-pom making are now seen in all cultural spheres, from art to design to fashion to amateurs, and even in public space where guerilla knitters make lively temporary knit interventions. Knitting collectives are springing up everywhere, empowered by the web and bringing people together in response to a human need for sharing experiences and stories while creating craft.
Even a World Knitting Day has been proclaimed. The D.I.Y. movement has indeed gained momentum, influencing more unique and personalized garments and accessories. In a wild expression of our collective creative survival instincts, people will rediscover the beauty of one-of-a-kind creations made from yarn, fringe, crochet, patchwork, embroidery and hand-knit pieces. With a hint of surrealism and humor, the trends of the future will literally dig deep into ourselves for inspiration; the human body and the soul.
The fibrous texture of tissue, the fuzzy follicles of hair, the string-like strands of veins and the bouncing qualities of flesh and skin all provide a starting point for new techniques and colors.
Creating a fashion to mirror our own image, celebrating humankind. Mohair is the fiber that can create our splitting image; a versatile fiber that can translate all of these ideas and more, ranging from silk-like furry yarns to entangled textured blends.It will be used as the fantasy yarn of choice to give volume and bring fun to the knit.
Fashion and design are experiencing a revival of highly creative textiles and knits. The idea of doing yourself yourself (D.I.Y.Y.) is an innovative look at craft as never seen before.”
For more on this trend visit Li Edelkoort’s Trendtablet page.
Photos by Sabine Pigalle.
Big Wool Cable Cowl
Left: Mohair Tube & Cotton Divider Right: Weave Stitch Collar (so pretty)
Photos: Donovan Fichardt Styling: Kirsten Lipschitz
Photographer: Antonia Steyn Pics from Elle Decoration Issue 73
I know it’s almost the end of winter, but when I saw these beautiful knitted cowls and collars I couldn’t resist. The following info is from Anna’s blog.
Who is Anna Loubser
A Cape Town based graphic artist, I began knitting about a two years ago. To my surprise, people liked what I made. Seeing potential, enjoying every stitch I knitted and every zany idea I was inspired to produce, I grew my evening knitting hobby into a little business called Wolmer. Named after the suburb in Pretoria where I grew up.
A uniquely Wolmer work ethic
I have three things needed to create jobs: design, skill and needles. My inspired knitters can knit at home and look after their kids at the same time. This also creates feelings of accomplishment and a new sense of self-worth among these amazing women.
A feel for design
The way things feel is very important to me. Only the best locally produced, organically dyed, 100% cotton and bamboo yarn is used to create my products. The combination of material and production makes Wolmer a socially responsible brand, leaving behind a better planet for your children.
I handcraft and personally design every item carrying the Wolmer tag, overseeing all the ladies’ knitting. My use of colour, texture, combination stitches and design is contemporary. I keep in mind what makes so many people think of knitting as tired and ugly, so that I can do the opposite. I look at new ways of constructing everyday products with the hope of recontextualising them.
Visit Anna’s blog Wolmer Knitting for more knitted toys, fashion and interior products.
