With a long history of weaving, and an obsession with colour and pattern, South Africa has a wealth of textile designers that continues to inspire. We’ve rounded up 7 amazing textile designers that are challenging the trends and catching the world’s attention.
LadumaNgxokolo was taught by his mother to use a knitting machine as a young boy, and since then has spent years taking his Xhosa heritage to the world. His knitwear clothing celebrates his heritage, and is inspired by traditional Xhosa beadwork, colours and motifs. While his main objective is to capture his culture in his knitwear and to maintain what he feels is a dying heritage, the young fashion designer is catching the attention of fashionistas locally and abroad, along the way.
While South Africa has all but lost its textile manufacturing industry to the East, Mungo is unique in that it produces all its own fabrics. Based in Plettenberg Bay, the company uses a combination of antique and modern looms to make, design and weave beautiful fabrics, which they then transform into their signature towels, bedding, table and kitchen accessories and apparel. With simple, elegant designs and luxurious quality, it’s no wonder people around the world are gunning to get their hands on Mungo products.
South Africa has a rich supply of high-quality mohair wool, but most products are pretty staid and dated in their design. Enter Hinterveld, who have taken the classic material and given it new life with contemporary, slick designs. Their luxuryblankets, throws, scarves and accessories boast on-trend colours and contemporary designs woven in with new compositions such as silk, alpaca and linen.
Studio 19 is a multi-disciplinary design studio that focuses on furniture, lighting and ceramics, as well as textiles. Their fabrics have captured the world’s attention with their off-centre illustrations, monochromatic patterns and stylish applications. Anything from smoking skeletons to geometrics grace their fabrics, which are featured in design publications and stylish homes across the country.
Blandat, by Dutch designer Debby van der Veer, was founded in 2013, when she moved to South Africa. Blandat is a Swedish word used to describe a mix of materials, colours and techniques, and looking at her wild designs, it’s the perfect name for the eccentric brand. Blandat fabrics are converted into a range of scarves, garments, fabrics and wallpapers, and the company works on many custom projects, too.
Artvraat Designs have created a sleek range of designer fabrics from which they manufacture stylish products such as napkins, table cloths, tea towels, curtains, scatter cushions and lamp shades. “Our main focus is to design for the young at heart, regardless your age you will be able to enjoy our fabrics in your home,” says co-owner Janes Meyer. The company is proudly South African and supports local industries wherever possible to provide quality, sustainable products.
Mother and daughter team Sue and Robyn Britz brought their skills together in 2012 to form Zana Products. With Sue’s many years in print and production, and Robyn’s graphic design, branding and online skills, the duo quickly devised a range of quirky, fun fabrics which hit the market in a massive way thanks to their huge online and social media presence. They continue to expand their range and even share their skills with regular block printing workshops.
