4 South African baby brands embracing slow fashion principles
These are the South African baby brands that are prioritising local production, baby-friendly materials and sustainable practices.
Author: Nobanzi Sokhuthu
Q&A: Sisi Nxumalo shares culture and community with her sustainable SoulShooz
Sisi Nxumalo left a stable job in digital media to become an entrepreneur in 2016. After a few years in business, she was on a quest to find stylish and comfortable traditional footwear for her non-Zulu husband. This led to...
4 Young South Africans share their hopes and dreams for the future
As South Africa marks Youth Day, young changemakers weigh in on democracy, inequality, and the future they are fighting to build
Q&A with Samkelo Boyde Xaba to explore the new BOYDE collection
Since he was a toddler, Samkelo Boyde Xaba has been obsessed with the creative arts. This obsession and his curiosity about clothes and how they are made led him into the world of fashion. “I have a strong aesthetically driven...
Q&A: Diana Cilliers give us a peek into the White Cube boutique world
A new boutique has opened in Muizenberg, Cape Town’s seaside suburb on False Bay. Curated by Diana Cilliers, the retail destination offers a selection of beautifully crafted, artisanal garments made by local craftspeople. We spoke to Diana for more details....
What is the local fashion industry doing about its overproduction?
Too much of anything is hardly ever a good thing and excess inventory, or so-called dead stock is no different. What to do with surplus garments, textiles, footwear or the stock that gets returned to retailers but can’t be resold...
Khayelitsha Fashion Week 2023 celebrates the creative resilience of township designers
From Paris Fashion Week to the homegrown runways of South Africa Fashion Week and Cape Town Fashion Week, it’s been a busy year for the fashion world. For the Mother City there’s been an extra hurrah in the form of...
7 Local brands for an eco-friendly and budget-friendly period
Every day 300 million people around the world menstruate for approximately five days in every 28 day cycle. Many South Africans do not have access to or cannot afford to buy sanitary products. According to iMenstruate 83% of girl learners...
How a local Facebook group became a global network for clothing upcycling
Healing the fashion system, and our relationships with clothing, is often rooted in a strong sense of community. For many, Facebook groups are an accessible way to seek out like-minded slow living enthusiasts. The Up-Cycled Cloth Collective is a good...
Meet 5 women farmers who are rethinking food systems for a sustainable future
Farming has historically been regarded as the work of men. But there is a growing number of women entering the agricultural space. Women farmers constitute 60–80% of smallholder farmers, yet they make up about 15–20% of landholders in sub-Saharan Africa,...
Ash & Mill creates skincare inspired by ancient practices and local botanicals
Combining his knowledge of chemistry with his passion for sustainability, Dr. Brian Watson created Ash & Mill to honour South Africa’s rich biodiversity. The name ‘Ash & Mill’ is inspired by the history and chemistry behind soap making. During the 19th...
Q&A: Stephanie Bentum’s approach to textile making gives her star quality
Stephanie Bentum is a textile maker whose work has been travelling internationally through her collaborations with renowned South African designers, Lukhanyo Mdingi and MMUSOMAXWELL. Stephanie’s natural fibre of choice is wool, which she sources locally from farmers with ethical and...
Q&A: House of AKACHI designer Nneji Akunne says fashion can drive sustainable development
At House of Akachi, sustainability is a way of life. Founder Nneji Akunne’s passion and determination for sustainable development is as clear as it is for fashion. She sees fashion as a pathway toward sustainable development. It’s no wonder then...
Q&A: Samantha Rayment showcases the work of local artisans through handcrafted rope bags
KELP by Ray is a Cape Town-based sustainable fashion brand that sells a range of high-quality cotton rope bags. Each bag is individually handcrafted by local artisans in the Mother City from locally sourced materials. Their versatile bags are made...