It’s now a breeze to buy a Madiba shirt

Published Nov 17, 2015

Share

Johannesburg - Nelson Mandela was iconic not only for his historic contribution, but also for his colourful silk shirts.

Now Joburg fashion followers can infuse their wardrobes with “Madiba magic”.

The Presidential Shirt store, which is known to travellers through OR Tambo International Airport and became well known to V&A Waterfront visitors in Cape Town until its store there closed in 2011, has finally opened at Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton City, the most fitting place for it.

Presidential Shirt was founded in 1994 when Cape Town designer Desre Buirski gave Mandela a batik “Fish Shirt” as a gift two days before his inauguration as president of South Africa in 1994. She went on to make more than 150 shirts for Mandela.

Buirski said Mandela loved to wear her designs “because they were specially made in a way that would represent South Africa and the rainbow nation. They were bold and striking and they kind of embellished his charismatic personality. He wanted to stand out and be different to politicians across the world.”

The “Madiba shirt” is hand-painted silk batik, and it can take four to six weeks to make.

Batik is created by applying the motif for the print with a copper spout and bamboo handle. Layers of wax are hand-painted, then a wax-resistant dye is added. The process of wax and dye is repeated for every colour. The fabric is then boiled to remove the wax and to set the colours. Some designs require thousands of dots to be painted individually. This ancient art form is highly skilled and has been passed on through generations.

Capetonians may remember the Presidential Shirt store located in the Clock Tower at the V&A Waterfront. After it closed, the shop opened at OR Tambo, becoming one of the airportâ' most popular retailers.

Presidential Shirt appeared for the first time this year on the runway at SA Menswear Week with a range that veered from traditional hand-painted silk to Shweshwe and modern digital print. Many of the runway pieces will be available in the new Sandton store.

“Nelson Mandela Square was the only choice for Presidential for our first local store launch, given the heritage of the brand and the centre upmarket clientele,” says Robert Sim, chief executive of Presidential Group.

“This will make the brand” flagship Presidential shirt more widely available to the local South African market rather than the international traveller.”

Sim says there is a fluid market for the shirts, “with many of our customers buying almost every new style and defining their style of dress by the brand. But we try to adapt to trends, and many customers own one or two shirts as statement pieces’ in their wardrobe”.

The new store is relatively small compared to its space at OR Tambo, but it is refreshingly open-plan, focusing on the core menâ' shirt range and menâ' accessories.

The shirts are hand-painted silk, printed cotton in various styles and some lighter summer rayon styles. “We have a new range of digital printed cotton designs for Spring-Summer 2015 which the store will launch, available in a very broad range of colours and prints,” says Sim.

The target market is broad. “Traditionally, Presidential shirts have been worn by men of influence, looking to make a statement with their dress. The market is increasingly younger and we are introducing more tailored fits and modern prints. We will always make sure we appeal to our loyal customer with our core range,” says Sim.

Presidential shirts range from R1 195 for a jacquard woven shirt to R5900 for a hand-painted silk shirt.

The Presidential store at Sandton City opened yesterday. For more info, visit www.presidentialco.za.

Facebook: Presidential Shirt;

Twitter: @Presidential AFR;

Instagram: @PresidentialShirt.

The Star

Related Topics: