TRENERY
The Rain Maker pattern was inspired by a unique Female dynasty located in the Limpopo Province, in a place known as Ga-Modjadji. The People who live in this Kingdom are called ‘Balubedo’, and they speak ‘Kilubedo’, which is Sepedi with a difference in vocabulary. The ‘K’ is emphasized.
The 1st Rain Queen ‘Maselekoane Modjadji’ was the only Female ruler during her reign (1800-1854), and her entire kingdom was largely run by women, which made her a respected figure in an era when women were not given leadership positions in Society.
The Rain Queen was given this name as she could make rain. This special mystical gift had been handed down to 6 Queens, from mother to daughter, since 1800. I drew inspiration from raindrops that are splashed onto a glass window, where the droplets slide down the surface in skewed lines. I then used a combination of straight lines and circles to represent the streaks and droplets, creating a strong striped composition.
The pattern signifies the power of RAIN in the cycle of life and aligns it with the power of WOMEN in society.
Photo credits _Trenery
FABROSANZ MY ALTITUDE COLLECTION
Fabrosanz X Renaissance Design collaborated on a new collection called ‘MY ALTITUDE’, which pays homage to the Pedi, Tsonga & Venda people of Limpopo, South Africa. At the core of both brands lies our passion, which is fueled by our love for the African continent and its array of multicultural heritage. These 3 cultures are rarely represented on the runways & are located in the Northern part of South Africa. North signifies the highest point, one’s sense of balance & one ‘s origins/ beginnings.
TSONGA/ PEDI PATTERN
Our translation of the beautiful Tsonga people was inspired by their bold oral fabrics, usually tied across the chest and wrapped around the head. The Tsonga composition comprises diamond shapes signifying their popular traditional fast -paced electro Shangaan music. The circles represent the shape of the ‘xibelani’ skirt once wrapped around the waistline, and the subtle hint of leaves carries a nostalgic oral aesthetic. The composition is complemented by the classic Pedi colours.
Photo credits _Fabrosanz
VENDA PATTERN
Through carefully studying the Venda cloth and its brightly coloured lines, layered with embroidery and vibrancy… a modern translation had to be explored! Using variations of vertical slim lines anchored by thicker white vertical & horizontal lines allowed us to retain its strong linear roots. Incorporating chevrons represents a simplified ‘V’ form which the body makes when women are kneeling down on the ground with both legs and arms aligned.
Photo credits _Fabrosanz
CONLUSION
Our SS21 Collection is a special offering which celebrates & proudly elevates the high-spirited & humble people of the North. The collection has graced many runways, some of which include Africa Fashion Week London (AFW), African Fashion International (AFI) Sandton, and Durban Fashion Week, to name a few.
TSHWANE COLLECTION
Photo credits _Fabrosanz
Photo credits _Fabrosanz
