MAYA WEGERIF is perhaps one of my favourite young poets coming from Africa. This poem/spoken word is perfect for those of us who are either mixed race or are just having a rough time with our knotty ends and clumps of hair. I'm having one of those days...the days when the thought of even touching my hair sends shivers down my spine, because at 07h00, I know that my trek to the pool where I do my weekly lengths will have me in the shower combing out all those knots Maya so eloquently rhymes about. I need a bit of inspiration...

Woe is me! Enjoy!!!

I am not a big Elle Reader, my poison is Vogue, and not just Vogue but I collect a few of the Vogue Publications--mainly UK, Italia, Paris, and when I can get my hands on one Vogue Brasil, India, Russia and Latin America. Anywhooooohow, I came across last month's Elle South Africa thanks to my new favourite Fashion Magazine Store in NYC and was inspired by their 'JOZI MABONENG' editorial, which I had to share. 

The premise: Some of the best designers from all over [Sub-Saharan] Africa, such as Loin Cloth and Ashes, Taibo Bacar, Ituen Basi, Marianne Fassler (one of my favs from NYFW 2012), Gavin Rajah and Deola Sagoe,  meet in Soweto to show off some truly inspiring prints, modeled by the lovely Sharleen Dziire. I cannot say how much I adore this editorial, as it highlights an approach to Africa and its aesthetics as it greets a new dawn in fashion. This editorial inspired me so much that I went off and finally utilised my Ghanaian Wax Print fabric, which I made into a full skirt (Post on this to come shortly). What follows are a few images from this spread which I hope brings new light to how we all see Africa and its fashion.

Moonbasket, founded in 2009 by Dani Le Roy, works collaboratively with women from a community-based project on the outskirts of Cape Town to create beautifully crocheted homewares with a contemporary feel. Crochet remains one of the few crafts that cannot be replicated by machine - an interesting fact to consider in the technology vs traditional skills debate. Materials are natural or local where possible and the light shades are particularly spectacular.

Enquire here.