We are proud to have been featured in the Spring Stellenbosch Visio Magazine
Striving for clothing with a conscience, we ask our contributing designers for their take on delivering a local design economy based on ethical practices, transformative innovation of materials and processes, and re-engineering the fast-fashion cycle:
Meet the Makers
“Our brand values are deeply rooted in the awareness that everything is interconnected. We’re mindful that our design processes and decisions have an impact on the people and planet that we rely on to bring our designs to life. We strive to create from a place of compassion and respect, keeping our product imprint intentionally small by using local natural fibres such as South African wool and mohair, producing small quantities and collaborating with South African businesses across the value chain.” – Natalie Green, INKE – Inke.co.za
“We embrace our imperfections and humanness. It surfaces in the fabrics we source and the textile development of our garments. Our studio is a space where our craft is passed on for generations. We use fashion to create wearable art by focusing on embroidery and fabric manipulation. Every garment is hand-cut in the Karoo, respecting a no-waste process. Mindful creation, mindful
consumption.”
– Daisie Jo – daisiejo.com
“We feel strongly that a sustainable, circular economy does not start in factories. The process starts with rain, the delicate ecosystem of the plant life, the quality of the soil, the role of herdsmen and the importance of healthy animals to produce quality mohair. From raw fibre we move into the process of washing, cleaning, dyeing and spinning until finally the yarn ends up on the loom. In many ways weaving and finishing are the last few steps in an intricate and codependent
supply chain.”
– Frances V.H Mohair – francesvh.com
“VIVIERS attempts to create a new fashion community, a new Earth. Through a collective and creative hybrid space called ‘Hub-of-The-Hand,’ VIVIERS collaborates with numerous South African artisans, using South African raw materials like Cape wools, South African mohair, ostrich products and South African leather, with the idea to further promote the South African textile industry. We aim to contribute and establish South Africa as a destination for supreme craftsmanship in luxury manufacturing, that leads with its slow and conscious approach.”
– Lezanne Viviers – viviersstudio.com
“We like to think of ourselves as a slow fashion brand. Our intention is to create heritage pieces of clothing that surpass trends and can live in your wardrobe until your children can inherit them. We try not to waste any raw materials, recycling wherever possible and by keeping off-cuts that can be reused as linings before giving away the rest to community projects that can use them creatively. We also try to make use of our already extensive pattern archive without having to make a new pattern for every new design. We don’t go on sale, preferring to make fewer, but to order, rather than being overstocked. Lastly, we are a local brand supporting local suppliers and creating jobs within a community to support them.”
– KLûK CGDT – klukcgdt.com
“At Superella, comfort is the most important design consideration. It is about everyday dressing and quality over quantity. Our production runs are small and considered, and zero fabric wastage guides our patternmaking principles.”
– Ella Buter – instagram.com/verysuperella