PROJECT AFRICA : EMBROIDERY

I spend time each winter in Cape Town sourcing my jewellery range for the shop. During my visit last February I met with representatives of The Keiskamma Trust, a community organisation that has a skilled group of embroiderers.  Prior to my trip I had been introduced by a client to Adinkra symbols, from Ghana.  I thought they were amazing graphics, and when I saw samples of Keiskamma's embroiderer's work I knew immediately what I wanted to do. Once I was back in France I sent out strips of linen with instructions and templates for my chosen symbols.  They embroidered them, sent them back to me, and I then incorporated them into my designs. The results are just beautiful.

Each symbol has a name and meaning. Their origin is unclear but it is thought that they are named after Nana Kofi Adinkra, once a king of an area called Gyaman in the Ivory Coast in the 19th century.  Craftsmen are thought to have developed them to decorate cloth.

The cloth artisan stamping the symbols onto the base cloth

Asante boys going to a dance in adinkra robes

The 7 symbols I chose for this summer's collection

The collaboration has been a huge success.  I am thrilled with the results and have made a limited edition collection for the shop.  I am already working on ideas for SS15.  It particularly brings me joy to be working with these talented craftspeople here in South Africa and having their wonderful work on display within my own designs.  I've been invited by the Cape Embroiderer's Guild to give a talk on this project whilst I'm here.

Names and meanings of the Adinkra symbols

Winter Accessories at BEVERLY SMART

The collection of jewellery that I put together in February during my annual Cape Town visit has been a huge success.  Lots of recycled materials, or "détourné" as they say in French (means diverted from their usual use here), wonderful traditional beading techniques updated and applied to contemporary designs, and of course the fabulous one-offs from Guidemore, the Zimbabwean jewellery designer who never ceases to amaze me with his creativity.  Here are just some of the gorgeous things you can find in the store right now.

Two of Guidemore's creations using a mixture of traditional African beads and rubber washers and tubing.

Climbing rope revisited.

Recycled bicycle inner tubes.

Masses of beautiful zulu beaded ropes.

Designer Collaboration

You all know that I'm a huge a fan of South African design and craft, and for this winter's collection I worked again with Stephanie Bentum of KRAFTHAUS to create a range of clothing with hand felted decorative edgings.  Last year's range was a huge success and so this year we developed the idea further using this year's colours.

This is a limited edition collection. Every piece is a one-off, matching hand made and dyed merino wool textured felting with my selection of pure wool and cashmere fabrics, to create sculptural garments that stand out from the crowd.

CAPE TOWN CREATIVITY

Back from Cape Town and WHAT an amazing trip.  Binky, my wonderful hostess, had my bedroom ready and waiting, the clothing I leave there all freshly washed and ironed, new satellite TV installed (which, as those of you who know me well will be surprised to hear I didn't watch once (didn't have time!)) and she was bursting with her usual enthusiasm for my projects, her projects and anything inbetween.

This was a particularly satisfying trip in that as well as finding more lovely jewellery to sell in the shop this coming year, I have succeeded in making the link between my clothing designs and some of the beautiful work coming out of Cape Town.  The first great news I had on arrival was that Binky has assembled a group of knitters/crocheters; I have wanted to get my knitwear made in Cape Town ever since I went there the first time, and now Binky has made it happen.  Teresa, Francina and Claudette are refugees from Rwanda; they knit, crochet, bead, weave.  So clever.

From L to R : Teresa, Claudette and Francina

We spent several days together working on my designs as well as brainstorming projects for Binky, and here are some of the results. Beautiful handknitted pieces, no two the same.

I wore them around while I was there and got a great reception, so that led me to thinking that I might be able to market my knitwear designs in South Africa.  To this end, Binky put me in touch with Helon Melon, a well know Cape Town designer, and we are in full collaboration mode as I write.  Between South Africa and France I should be able to keep at least one of the knitters in full time work; that's my goal anyway.  

Second project dear to my heart:  I met up with Stephanie from Krafthaus and she is going to make and supply me with handmade felted woollen edgings for my coats, dresses and who knows what else!  Watch out for the results in my Winter 2012 range. This is one of her gorgeous creations, just to give you some idea how lovely her work is.

And finally, I shall be using the beautiful fine crochet work produced by Projekt as decoration on my dresses.  Doesn't this look wonderful?  Peta Becker runs the group which provides income to more than 28 women from Imizamo Yethu, (the informal settlement in Hout Bay, Cape Town). Working with 100% cotton, they focus on providing excellent contemporary design.

And then there are the fabrics I've brought back for the 2012 collection ....

And some of the jewellery ...

So you see, it was HUGE success!