Durban - An established model and aspiring designer before she’s even turned 20, Sune Botes is a Durban beauty with brains.
She has made a profession out of modelling, under the close watch of her parents, Adelle and Herman Botes of Extreme Model Management, and today is a teacher at the academy.
At 15 she did an internship with Durban designer Brenda Quinn and in 2012 launched her own label, Sune B Designs, which caters to a growing market for pageant and party dresses.
Wary to remain age appropriate while still managing to make little girls feel like princesses, Botes is designing from an informed space, having been there herself.
“I entered the industry at a young age and know the pitfalls. All my dresses are custom, which allows me to take into consideration the little girl’s age, personality and event – be it a flower-girl dress, themed evening or competition,” she said.
Samantha Gatland, 2014 Junior Miss Petite KwaZulu-Natal, modelled some of Botes’s designs for us.
Formerly from the Netherlands, Anne Wetselaar and Eva Lebens arrived in Durban in 2011 and became good friends. When they could not find proper sleep sacks for their children, Cowgirlzzz was born.
They believe sleep sacks are the safest way for a baby to sleep and, as moms themselves, ensured theirs were made from the best quality fabrics and traditional ribbon.
In 2012 they launched their 100 percent South African label, which today includes the Shweshwe skirt we chose to feature, blankets and other boys’ and girls’ clothes.
Cath Wilkinson of the Berea, in Durban, started making children’s wear after she had her first child and realised how difficult cool cotton sleepwear was to find.
Her range, Forty Winks, which she launched in 2013, is 100% cotton sleepwear, gowns, pram sets and accessories. She stocks Kids’ Emporium, Gateway, Mooi, Glenwood, Phrog Designs, Kloof and One of a Kind on the North Coast.
She’s also just launched Fit for an Angel, christening attire that is available only at Kids’ Emporium.
Christmas costumes are hard to come by locally. We found a small imported range at Musgrave Centre pop-up shop, Ho Ho Ho, which is only open for a limited time. These include elf outfits and those with appliquéd reindeer.
For high-end, imported kiddies’ clothing, we found a wide selection of great clothes to dress your children in this Christmas at Posh Little Ones in Umhlanga.
Pictures: Omeshnie Naidoo
Location: Posh Little Ones, Umhlanga
Model: Samantha, Extreme Model Management
Children: Lubanzi, Singatha, Sienna, Nikita, Zanemvula, Junseok, Jinwoo Yun and Tyla
l Forty Winks sold at Mooi, Glenwood
l Cowgirlzzz sold at Anthology, Windermere
l Sue-Anna Collection sold at Brigit Filmer Spa and Skin, Gillitts
l Sune B Designs sold on-line, Facebook
l Christmas outfit sold at Ho Ho Ho pop-up shop, Musgrave Centre
l Carters, Jacadi, Oshkosh B’gosh, Oilily, Phoebe and Floyd sold at Posh Little Ones
Omeshnie Naidoo, The Mercury