Bringing the creative process to life is often a challenging task for local designers. There is a need to keep their product competitive in a world of giant retailers, fast fashion and mass production. We asked our featured local designers what their brand stands for, where they get their inspiration from and why it’s so important to be supporting local.
“We believe African fashion should be part of an international market with a local perspective.” – KLûK CGDT
“If everyone just bought fewer, better quality garments every year it would make a massive difference in the world.” – Hannah Lavery
“We focus on bringing together form and function by combining locally sourced, quality materials to fashion smart, modern and sophisticated pieces.” – Justine Shelly, Anvil&I
“At it’s heart our brand is proudly South African, guided by a commitment to nurture local artisans and industry as well as to source materials, whenever possible, from within this rich, eclectic country.” – Kat Van Duinen
“We play around with mock-ups at the studio a lot so often a pattern morphs into something completely different from what I originally designed – like its leading the way.” – Hannah Lavery
“We are a tiny team and a proudly female run brand in the heart of Cape Town and stay true to creating ethically made, authentic and quality pieces inspired by the landscape and oceans of Africa.” – Amor Coetzee, Dayfeels
“By consuming items that are of good quality and only when we need them, we minimize all the unnecessary things being introduced into the world.” – Thalia Strates
“Our products proudly stand for an ethical and fair work environment. Our high quality garments are priced competitively to try to contribute to a consumers mind shift of buying long lasting garments made locally and giving them access to actually get to know who made their clothes.” – Deeva Merwe, Merwe Salt
“We aim to inspire slow fashion and pride in conscious consumption through the creation of meaningfully made products.” – Thalia Strates
“If everyone just bought fewer, better quality garments every year it would make a massive difference in the world.” – Hannah Lavery
“Our ‘Devine Femme’ collection explores the balance between the feminine and masculine energy within the self. The Divine Feminine is beyond gender.” – Celeste Arendse, Selfi
“Supporting local creative and cultural industries has a direct impact on constructing our national identity as well as the obvious benefits on the economy and job creation.” – Gillian Lawrence, Lorne
PHOTOGRAPHER: JACOBUS SNYMAN
FASHION & PROPS STYLIST: LYAL SEBA
HAIR & MAKEUP: SHAHNAZ COLA-WRENSCH – SUPERNOVA
MODEL: MYAMOUCH GIRWATH – TWENTY MANAGEMENT
SUPPLIERS:
ANVIL&I
DAYFEELS
HANNAH LAVERY
KAT VAN DUINEN
KLûK CGDT
LORNE
MERWE SALT
THALIA STRATES
SELFI
