Sindiso khumalo shop
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Sindiso Khumalo: I’m a textile nerd
Self-confessed "textile nerd", Sindiso Khumalo draws on her Zulu and Ndebele heritage to create fashion with a contemporary sensibility and graphic use of pattern.
“I use visual references from these cultures a lot in my work,” says the fashion designer, who creates her own textile prints.
Born in Durban, South Africa, she now lives and works in Hackney, London. Khumalo creates bold garments and accessories inspired by Zulu beadwork and Ndebele patterned-walls. Although still very much connected to her motherland, she believes the cultural diversity and cosmopolitanism of her new home is influential in her creative work too.
“What drew me to fashion is my strong interest in creativity and the arts,” says Khumalo.
Khumalo studied architecture at the University of Cape Town before moving to London to work in the office of renowned architect David Adjaye. She cites the Bauhaus Movement as a strong influence in her work – in particular, its use of colour and emphasis on line and pared-down forms.
At A
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Sindiso Khumalo
Designer and 2020 LVMH Prize finalist Sindiso Khumalo launched her eponymous South African brand in 2014. A graduate of Central Saint Martins, she worked for British-Ghanaian architect David Adjaye in London before moving back to her home country, where she settled in Cape Town. Characterized by intricate handwoven textiles, Khumalo’s designs are printed with the brand’s distinctive watercolor paintings and illustrations, her collections crafted using sustainable materials such as hemp, linen and African cotton.
At the heart of the designer’s burgeoning brand lies a sense of community; she employs a group of artisans in Burkina Faso, and a few small rural communities in South Africa, and she works with the United Nations Ethical Fashion Initiative to connect with various African woman artisans who practice a range of traditional techniques. She also established a partnership with Cape Town-based NGO Embrace Dignity, which encourages women to learn new skills such as hand-embroidery and crochet, and guides them to long-term, financially stable careers. Speaking t
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By now I'm sure a lot of us know about the Elle Rising Star Design Award that they are doing in association with Mr Price. Well, the finalists mood boards are ready and I will be posting them as we get closer and closer to the final winner selection. So we are starting with Sindiso Khumalo's mood board which I absolutely fucking love. Check below for a Q&A to introduce you to Sindiso.
*Tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? What's your educational background? What are your general professional and non-professional interests?
My name is Sindiso Khumalo and home is Durban, KwaZulu Natal, although I have spent most of my life outside of Durban. I was born in Botswana and spent my schooling years in Botswana, Pretoria and Durban. When I was 17 I packed my bags and moved to Cape Town to begin what was then my career in the arts and design world. I studied a bachelors degree in Architecture at the University of Cape Town and following graduation in 2002 I moved to London to work for architect David Adjaye. I spent some great moments there and also met some really
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