Newsletter No 36/20 September 2024
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MaXhosa Africa returns to Paris Fashion Week
Image supplied
South African fashion and lifestyle brand, MaXhosa Africa will presents its second Paris Fashion Week, showcasing its latest collection titled: Maxhonnaisse. The collection aims to redefine the perception of luxury African fashion.
“African luxury is often defined by those on the outside looking in,” says MaXhosa Africa chief creative director, Laduma Ngxokolo.
“For this collection, we wanted to define what luxury means to us as a brand – beyond the preconceived ideas of a colonial representation of the continent. At MaXhosa Africa we believe luxury is as much about refinement and craftsmanship as it is about an individual representation of culture that is imbued with a spiritual legacy, and a sense of individuality that makes it at once modern and historic. Through our manufacturing processes, we 100% empower the next generation of fashion designers and technicians committed to sustainable production.”
Founded more than a decade ago, MaXhosa Africa has maintained its commitment to creating bespoke pieces. Drawing on traditional practices of Xhosa culture – one of the biggest cultural groups in South Africa – MaXhosa Africa’s pieces are rooted in beadwork traditions, colour symbolism and patterns prominent in Xhosa dress. Its designs reimagine these cultural practices in an innovative way for a modern audience, presenting unique knitwear pieces that balance contemporary styles with traditional techniques.
Over the years, the brand has cultivated a following both locally and abroad, with its recent store opening in New York as well as showcases in London and Paris. Additionally, MaXhosa Africa has gone on to dress global influential figures such as Michelle Obama, Sarah Jakes-Roberts and Alicia Keys.
Presenting on 27 September, MaXhosa Africa will be unveiling its SS25 collection.
“We are honoured to host MaXhosa Africa at the South African Embassy during Paris Fashion Week, as part of our continuous efforts to support South African fashion designers in France for them to gain access and thrive in international markets. In particular, we are pleased to continue our longstanding support for the MaXhosa Africa brand. It is with a great sense of pride and joy to see how the brand has grown over the years, and we are excited to witness MaXhosa Africa reach yet another milestone, breaking barriers and inspiring other South Africans,” says South African Ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa.
“Through bringing our artists to wider audiences, the Embassy has been committed to providing tangible support to South African Fashion designers in France, who are significant contributors to the South African creative economy.”
Maxhonnaisse draws inspiration from renaissance art to explore the rebirth of Africa.
Imbuing the opulence and exuberance of renaissance art with an African perspective, the collection features jewel tones, florals and crowns, as well as excessive adornment while still bearing the patterns iconic to MaXhosa Africa’s house style. “We cannot forget patterns as they are the DNA of MaXhosa, which is what our ancestors left for us,” says Laduma.
This collection witnesses the most drastic change for the brand. Presenting a new design language, the collection speaks to luxury inspired by the continent while breaking away from the stereotypes of African fashion.
“This collection is a testament to our efforts of redefining and reimagining the bounds of African fashion. We always try to highlight new and different narratives of African cultures and break down the boundaries between Africa and the rest of the world,” says Laduma.
Twyg calls for Sustainable Fashion Awards 2024 nominees
Image by Tash Singh.
Twyg works at the intersection of fashion and sustainability, inspiring and supporting kinder, fairer, inclusive and nature-friendly futures. The Twyg Sustainable Fashion Awards is one of its many dynamic projects, which include the Slow Fashion Festival, Africa Textile Talks and Confections x Collections, and more.
Now, in its sixth year, Twyg has opened its call for nominations to the public for its annual Sustainable Fashion Awards.
Twyg was reportedly the first to launch sustainable fashion awards in South Africa. Its awards programme honours local fashion changemakers and supports emerging and established designers across accessories, footwear, clothing, tastemakers, activism, and other nomination categories.
The awards seek to celebrate the leadership, creativity and commitment it takes to innovate fashion with empathy and courage.
The contest seeks designers who implement sustainable, circular and regenerative approaches to design and who foster ethical practices in the industry; who help build thriving communities and who are sensitive to cultural and place-appropriate design.
The awards support sustainable fashion in a very complex industry.
‘At Twyg, we want to celebrate fashion that is ecologically, socially and culturally fit for the future. We need to support the leaders, designers and makers involved in ushering in the tomorrow our planet needs,’ says founder Jackie May, who launched Twyg in 2018.
‘Sustainability is not a trend; it’s a fundamental shift in how we think about what we wear, how it’s made, and the impact it has on the planet and people.’
‘You can nominate someone, and we encourage designers to self-nominate. Only by raising our voices and making different choices can we bring about change,’ says May.
‘We invite you to be part of shaping our society and communities through raising your voice to highlight designers who are making an impact, no matter how small. If you’re with us in wanting to inspire a fashion and textile industry that is diverse, sustainable, and embraces circular design principles, then put your nominees forward now!’
Nominations are open and close on 27 September 2024, after which judging commences. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held in Cape Town on 22 November 2024, and the overall winner will receive a substantial prize.
Nominations can be submitted online via www.twyg.co.za
A Pichulik x Aaks Kumasi collaboration
By Nokubonga Thusi
A Pichulik x Aaks Kumasi Aya bag Image: Supplied
The project features three handbags that combine Aaks’s traditional weaving techniques and Pichulik’s sculptural brass elements with woven rope details
A seed planted in April 2015 is bearing fruit f or Cape Town-based jewellery brand Pichulik and Ghanaian artisanal-handbag brand Aaks when a trip to Ghana culminated in the Pichulik x Aaks Kumasi collaboration. After discussing plans over plantains and coconuts at marketplaces, Pichulik’s Katherine-Mary Pichulik and Aaks’s Akosua Afriyie-Kumi took their colour cues from Kejetia Market in Kumasi and merged their design aesthetics.
The result? Three handbags that combine Aaks’s traditional weaving techniques and Pichulik’s sculptural brass elements with woven rope details, along with hand-dyed and -woven raffia. Choose from the Mekyea Wo, a small cross-body bag; the Aya, an over-the-shoulder bucket bag; or the Nsaa, worn over the shoulder or as a clutch. pichulik.com 
Truworths final results June 2024
Revenue for the year climbed to R22.4 billion (2023: R22 billion) while trading profit jumped to R4.2 billion (2023: R3.6 billion). Profit for the period attributable to equity holders increased to R3.9 billion (2023: R3.3 billion). Furthermore, headline earnings per share was reported lower at 817.9cps (2023: 873.3cps).
Final dividend
The directors of the company have resolved to declare a final gross cash dividend from retained earnings in respect of the 52-week period ended 30 June 2024 in the amount of 197 South African cents (2023: 245 South African cents) per ordinary share to shareholders reflected in the company’s register on the record date, being Friday, 4 October 2024.
Directorate
Brendan Deegan has been appointed as an independent non-executive director and a member of the Audit Committee, with effect from 1 October 2024.
In the 1950s, the average American household spent 11.5% of their income on clothing. Nowadays, Americans use around 3.5% of their income for clothes.
Queen Victoria was the first person to wear a white wedding dress. Prior to this, white had been used as a color of mourning.
However, the Chinese people still use white as a color for mourning. In the West, it now symbolizes purity.
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