We asked current and previous winners of the Twyg Sustainable Fashion Awards to share what they’re hoping for this Christmas, and what they’ll be gifting their loved ones. More time, slower living and conscious gifting are priorities.

Katlego Mokwana

Creative director of sustainable fashion brand Mother of Gao

This is a practical guide on techniques to print with natural dyes at home

A gift I’d love this Christmas: I would love to receive the book Printing With Natural Dyes by Nicola Cliffe just so that I can expand my wisdom on natural dye prints.

What I’ll be giving to someone I love: I will be gifting my daughter a new pair of sneakers since I promised to do so when she passes her grade.

• Conscious designer, Katlego is the 2024 recipient of the Twyg Emerging Designer Award presented by H&M. Visit her Instagram

Katherine-Mary Pichulik

Founder of PICHULIK Jewellery

The Mer Bracelet is made in Cape Town at the Pichulik studio 

A gift I’d love this Christmas: If I were to choose a product, it would be something sustainable and functional, like a thoughtfully crafted heirloom bag or a handwoven throw, a reminder that beauty and intention can coexist. Ultimately, I think the most valuable gifts are those that make us pause, reflect, and appreciate the world around us—whether they come in the form of experiences, conversations, or timeless objects. I think the gift I most want to give myself this year is slow, prescience and an abundance of nature. And my gift to my family is time—spending time with the people I love.

My gifts for myself are very practical. Honestly, I want an Instant Pot, I am on a gut reset and cooking bone broths, and slow-cooked bean stews are my go-to. I love the Raji 100% cotton block-printed set by Studio Duo (recently launched by Sarah from Better Half) or African Jaquard’s Kelp Forest Bedspread.

What I’ll be giving to someone I love: Each Christmas, I try to make something for my family. In previous years I have made bath and body creams and face mists, and my husband and I wove side tables. This year I will most probably be gifting PICHULIK’s bestselling Mer Bracelet [crafted with braided rope and brass rings and closed with a magnetic brass clasp] I am obsessed with it, and I can’t imagine who would not want one.

• PICHULIK won the Twyg Accessory Award in 2022. Visit PICHULIK here 

 

Khensani Mohlatlole

Writer and fashion historian

Unsuitable: A History of Lesbian Fashion was published in April 2024

A gift I’d love this Christmas: First is Unsuitable: A History of Lesbian Fashion by Eleanor Medhurst—I’ve been following her on TikTok for over a year now and she shares great insights into lesbian fashion throughout the ages. I’ve been exploring different African fabric dyeing techniques so a batik wax and indigo dye kit would be amazing to start some of my own experiments.

Recently, my favourite Tatreez artist, Lina Barakawi, released kits to accompany her embroidery lessons which would be fantastic—I recommend her lessons for anyone wanting to explore the Palestinian craft and learn more about Palestinian culture. Lastly, it would be a dream to find a second-hand smocking machine! I don’t know if anyone makes them new but I’ve seen some in great condition on Facebook Marketplace that would make pleating and smocking embroidery go much faster (faster in the sense going from 24 hours on a project to at least 16 of course).

What I’ll be giving to someone I love: All my loved ones will be forced to accept and love a handmade fabric collage this year! I’ve recently gone through the absolute misery that is moving and having to reconcile with my unending stash of fabric scraps which I’ll be putting together as little postcards or pouches. It’s going to be an opportunity to finally explore historical and cultural mending and quilting techniques like boro and kantha.

• Khensani won the 2022 Twyg Tastemaker Award. Follow her on Instagram

Lara Klawikowski

Fashion designer and slow fashion advocate

Lara Klawikowski receives the Twyg Changemaker Award in 2020. Photo: Tash Singh

A gift I’d love this Christmas: My sisters and I go home to our parents in Worcester for Christmas every year, and we love all the Christmas traditions. Presents were a thing when we were children but now that we’re adults helping my mother with all the food preparations is more of a gift. We bake my grandmother’s light fruit cake and bake batches of soetkoekies in Christmas shapes. We usually eat them as soon as we return from midnight mass, and the carols, candles, incense, and the nativity scene, all give such a special Christmas feeling. All our childhood traditions and being together is a Christmas gift to me.

What I’ll be giving to someone I love: I always realise two weeks into December that I missed the start of the season, so this year I made advent calendars for my family members, well in advance! I used up all the left-over cardboard and wrapping paper from previous years, and filled the calendars with chocolates and nougat from my favourite South African brands. This will be my gift to them, as they took much longer to create than I expected!

• Lara won the Twyg Changemaker Award in 2020. Follow her on Instagram

Gugu Peteni

Creative director of fashion brand GUGUBYGUGU

Gugu Peteni wins the 2024 Trans-seasonal Award presented by Polo South Africa. Photo The Dollie House 

A gift I’d love this Christmas: The gift I would love to give myself this holiday is time with my family and loved ones because nothing is more valuable than that.

What I’ll be giving to someone I love: My go-to gifts are always GUGUBYGUGU products since that’s what everyone keeps asking me for! I’ll also be hosting Christmas for my family this year, so I’ll definitely be channelling my inner Nara Smith and cooking up a feast for everyone.

• Gugu won the Trans-seasonal Award presented by Polo South Africa. Visit GUGUBYGUGU’s Instragram

Tash Liesner

Co-founder of rental fashion platform Style Rotate

Tash wishes for a candle from Rekindle Candle Co

A gift I’d love this Christmas: This year, I would love to rest for Christmas! I hope to make space to truly fill the festive season with things I love, which are walking my dogs, reading and gardening. With that said, I’d love a candle from Rekindle Candle Co. My favourite is their Beta Beach candle.

What I’ll be giving to someone I love: I try to give experiences, especially to those close to me. My go-to for my partner has been to gift him a tattoo voucher at Christmas. Personally, I always stress receiving gifts I know I won’t use: stressed that the person spent money on them and that they could potentially go to waste. An experience like a voucher for tea at The Mount Nelson Hotel or a facial at Meraki means that they can easily regift it or use it when they would like, and nothing physical goes to waste. Otherwise, a pack of Best scrunchies or biltong from Frankie Fenner are amazing stocking fillers or Secret Santa gifts.

• Style Rotate won the Twyg Retail Award in 2023. To rent an outfit, visit the Style Rotate website here 

Rachel Mia

Founder of fashion brand Apricity

Rachel Mia at the Twyg Sustainable Fashion Awards 2024. Photo: The Dollie House

A gift I’d love this Christmas: Items to help build my studio space as I build my brands, such as sewing equipment and storage items. Another gift I would cherish, which is also relevant to my fashion journey, is a digicam. I always find myself forgetting to record big moments and my journey, so a digicam would make me feel more excited about wanting and remembering to document these memories.

What I’ll be giving to someone I love: I will be crocheting or sewing hand-crafted garments and accessories such as bags, hats or dresses that my loved ones have been searching for but haven’t found the perfect sizing or fit. These crafts mean a lot to my family as it’s been passed down from my grandmother from generation to generation.

• Rachel won the Twyg Student Award 2024. She received a sewing machine from Husqvarna South Africa

Jakob Slabbert

Creative director of tailor-crafted fashion brand Sage&Sunday

Founded by Jakob, Sage&Sunday manufactures natural fabric fashion in Cape Town

A gift I’d love this Christmas: This year, I’d cherish the gift of time—to slow down, reflect, and connect with nature. Perhaps a quiet day in the mountains or by the sea, where I can recharge and find clarity for the year ahead. Tangibly, I’d treasure something handcrafted and meaningful, like a piece of art or a journal made from sustainable materials—something that holds a story of care and intention.

What I’ll be giving to someone I love: I plan to gift my loved ones moments of connection. For instance, I’ll be making a conscious effort to write heartfelt letters expressing my gratitude and admiration for them—words that last far longer than anything material.

• Jakob won the Twyg Footwear Award 2024. Visit natural fabric and sustainable fashion brand Sage&Sunday here 
• Main image features the Wave Earrings by Pichulik