It’s the season of balmy days on the beach, nights so hot you have to stay up and party, and fashion so fabulous that you just have to do whatever you’re doing in style
African beach towels were among the more novel items featured at the African Art Centre Christmas Exhibition.
The towels are the result of a partnership between Mr Price Home and four African Art Centre artists: Sibusiso Duma, Nontobeko Jilajila, Mbali Mabuza and Timothy Mlambo. They represent the varied skills of the artists.
Mlambo, a wood carver, creates wonderful mythical creatures; Duma, produces intricate paintings done in the pointillism style (of small distinct dots); Jilajila creates wonderful lino cut prints and Mabuza is a deft hand at applique embroidery.
The range was produced in collaboration with the designers at Mr Price Home and within the restrictions of towel weaving manufacture. The towels sell for R200 each and are available at Mr Price Home.
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Wild Rose Boutique is a newly formed beach apparel store blossoming from the impassioned and combined vision of two Durban women, Thandolwethu Tsekiso and Zinhle Mqadi, who have a penchant for a fragrant, balmy lifestyle.
The Wild Rose is a lady determined to grow into her best, ready to soak in all the magic bequeathed to her by the Universe. In essence, she is a lass rooted in the knowledge that the surest route to achieving a healthy self-image is through realising her own worth.
She is all about living a lifestyle in the pink and having resolute confidence in her own story. She is elegant, beautiful and fiercely proud of her form – staying true to it and enjoying life to the full.
Prices vary. The Monroe monokini with removable straps (R630) creates a curvy illusion and slim waist. Shop online at www.wildroseboutiqueza.co.za
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Exploring her biggest passion outside the wellness spectrum, fitness expert Lisa Raleigh recently launched her Noble Collection of distinctive jewellery pieces.
The launch saw the introduction of four ranges: Matta, a metal range, including shiny, brushed and multi-toned metal pieces; Halo, a gem range with precious stones, polki diamonds and other special gems; Dakarai, meaning “happy”, which is a colourful collection of African and Moroccan-inspired pieces; and Nova, a classic, statement collection including subtle and stand-out pieces for every occasion.
Shop online at www.anoblespace.com
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Hertex loves its fabrics so much that each season it comes up with a range or two of limited edition products that show them off. Its barrel bag, which comes in a small variety of designs, is ideal for the silly season. It is trendy enough to take to lunch and large enough for the beach or an overnight stay. What’s more it is locally manufactured with all the attention to detail a fashionista could ask for.
It sells at R850, visit www.hertex.co.za to view the different designs and find one of the nationwide stockists.
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For decades, Via la Moda has remained fashionably unique by designing and crafting ostrich leather handbags, crocodile leather handbags and leather accessories in line with Europe’s most popular seasonal fashion bag trends and colours.
Founded by Master Craftsman Hanspeter Winklmayr and Walter Hauser, in 1989, the brand has made a name for itself selling an assortment of exotic luxury leather handbags and accessories crafted to exacting standard.
They’re known for paying great attention when it comes to bags, wallets, purses and belts. Bags start at R2 500 and go up to more than R20 000.
Visit www.viaveneta.com or Vialamoda.com to find one of their nationwide stockists.
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Add some festive colour to your wardrobe this season with wire and beaded jewellery from Blossom Handmade.
Designer, Shauna Neill, started the home-industry type business five years ago by designing and making everything herself, and selling the range at markets and open days.
It has grown slowly and steadily and now employs seven other part-time staff. Each item is handmade by previously unemployed women, using locally produced materials. Her very popular T-shirt ne2
cklaces, are now made by hand at the newly built clothing factory at LIV Village providing full-time employment to an additional three women from the local community of Amaoti near KwaMashu.
The range is available online through online boutiques such as Hello Pretty, Utique, and Local Fair, as well as in numerous stores around South Africa. Late last year, this growing company started exporting to Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, London, Namibia, Abu Dhabi, Reunion, and France.
You may also shop at www.blossomhandmade.co.za.