"As an African designer, it's really important to me to design clothes that highlight my African heritage and history and bring it to light in a contemporary setting"
Who is Sindiso Khumalo?
Sindiso Khumalo is a sustainable textile designer based in Cape Town, South Africa who founded her label in 2015 to create modern sustainable textiles and clothing with an emphasis on African story telling. Sustainability, craft and empowerment are at the core of her work.
Before moving to London, Khumalo studied architecture at the University of Cape Town. After working for David Adjaye, she pursued a Masters in Design for Textile Futures at Central St Martins. Her unique visual voice draws upon her Zulu and Ndebele heritage, and she works with NGOs, the United Nations, and other developmental agencies. She is currently collaborating with hand-weavers in Burkina Faso to create handwoven fabrics for her collections.
The Sindiso Khumalo collection is inspired by vintage portraits of women from Africa and the diaspora from the 18th and 19th century. It also features prints that are linked to South African landscapes such as the protea, Nguni cattle, and cowrie shells.
Her childhood was heavily influenced by sustainability practices such as conservation, mending clothes, and composting/gardening. These were taught to her by her grandmother and mother and helped instill a respect for the environment from an early age.
Sindiso Khumalo x &OtherStories Collection
"My hopes and desires for this co-lab are to shine a light on African design and the magical nature of our mysterious continent. And to educate customers on the importance of materials in the composition of their wardrobe. Working with such a well-known company like &OtherStories gives us a fantastic platform and new opportunities to talk about our work to a wider audience."
Check out the newest collection of Sindiso Khumalo at &OtherStories: Click here.
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