Scandinavian retailer & Other Stories is great at shedding light on up-and-coming designers and bringing their amazing work to a whole new audience. Our next collaboration, which will be available this spring, is with South African designer Cindy Sokumaro. .
One of the co-winners of the 2020 LVMH Prize, Kumaro is making headlines for its sustainable designs inspired by South African heritage. She founded her brand in Cape Town in 2014 after studying at Central St. Her Martins and working for the United Nations Ethical Fashion Initiative.
Her collection draws on the places and people in her roots: her mother, who was an activist who fought apartheid when she was young, and others who have influenced South African history, such as Charlotte McSaek and Sarah Forbes Bonetta. Inspired by black people. These references are reflected in her Khumalo designs, which use vintage-inspired cuts and fabrics with her latest twist.
Karolina Ekman, co-lab manager at & Other Stories, said: “But we also admire the brand’s focus on sustainability and its dedication to social equality and women’s empowerment. I don’t want to give too much right now, but the collection brings a little happiness to women all over the world – and their wardrobes.”
Khumalo’s collection with & Other Stories includes ready-to-wear, swimwear, shoes, bags and other accessories. These are all made from sustainable materials and incorporate Khumalo’s hand-painted watercolors and collages of his prints. “We want to open up the sustainability conversation with more people,” said the designer.
“My hope and desire for this collaboration with & Other Stories is to shed light on the magical nature of African design and the enigmatic continent,” she added. , to educate our customers about the importance of materials when creating their wardrobes, and to show that clothes made from more sustainably sourced materials can be bold and playful.”
Designers follow in the footsteps of many inspiring and up-and-coming fashion designers who have teamed up with & Other Stories for one-off capsule collections. The latest in this was Natalia Alaverdian from Awake Mode, which launched last October. Meanwhile, Minju Kim and Regina Pyo are also working with affordable retailers.
The Sindiso Khumalo x & Other Stories collaboration will launch in April. Check back here as we get exciting updates.