Chapter 15 | Major moments, Haikus and Reviews: Ulindelwe’s Snapshot of SAFW SS23

Apr 27, 2023 | Interlude

In the immortal words of Lady Gaga, “There could be 100 people in the room and 99 of them haven’t hijacked an INTERLUDE from Holly and it just takes 1. I’m the one.” No, you aren’t confused and yes, you are on the right page. The chaos has entered the chat. Do not exit this page before you get to the end, okay? Okay, I admit that may have been a little much for you to stomach on first read but give me a chance. 

Amanda Laird Cherry 2010 Show

In case you don’t know me, I am Ulindelwe Ratsibe and I am here to break down SA Fashion Week. I love fashion and I have been professionally screaming into the void about fashion for approximately 2-3 years. I love long walks on the beach, Glenn Martens, and complaining. I have successfully tricked the team at CEC into letting me talk about SA Fashion Week and I am here to keep it cute but tell the truth.

Thebe Magugu at SAFW 2017

Tis’ the season for South African Fashion. South African Fashion Week, which started in 1997, is the premier event for South African fashion. With 26 years under its belt, it has launched the careers of many of the household names in our fashion industry such as Loxion Kulca, Jacques van der Watt and Mmuso Maxwell. I think what’s incredible about this gathering is that it manages to give young designers a platform to showcase their incredible talents. To give you some context, the youngest of the big 4 fashion weeks is London which started in 1983, and comparatively, SAFW has accomplished so much in such a short period of time.

This season we had a FANTASTIC variety of brands showcasing for SS23 (I know, it’s a little confusing with the transeasonality of the shows). There are certain connotations that come with the specific season that is showing, but, by now, everyone has made their own script and is following that version of events. It’s also one of the things that make it interesting. Every designer is allowed to do what they want and show how they want. After suffering through a boring history lesson (Fine it wasn’t boring but it definitely wasn’t what you were looking for) it’s time to get to the part you have all been waiting for. The fashions.

Major Moment #1: The BAM Collective

One thing about The BAM Collective is that they’re unapologetically BAM. Their brand DNA is hard to miss because when you see a piece, you know it’s BAM. The collection, titled ‘Aestheticism’, is an exploration of “the concept of vanity and all its synthetic and organic manifestations.” While some would call this a departure, I think it’s another tier of the brand’s identity. The weird and wacky lines and shapes that are characteristically BAM are all there but with a surgical eye. Crisp circular shapes unfold around the wrist and the waist of sharp trousers. There are wonderful knits and PLUS SIZED MODELS. (I could go into a whole diatribe about accurate representation on South African runways but have chosen to give you this long and unnecessary side note that I refuse to anthro-pologise for) This collection gave me chic executive realness and feeds into my theory that we might be gearing up to dress for social settings like we are going to the office again. 

What a beautiful moment but unfortunately, I cannot possibly try and give every brand a full dissection. To try and give everyone a spotlight, I have decided to write a little segment (this is a ploy to try and convince the team at CECZA to let me write more for them) called: 

Reviews as Haikus!

SAFWSS23 Black Coffee

Black Coffee:
Black and white runway
Muted tone surrealism
Well done Black Coffee

SAFWSS23 Gugu

Gugu by Gugu:
Ornate and Detailed
Proudly Xhosa DNA
Considered Menswear

SAFWSS23 Mantsho

Mantsho:
Afro-goddess chic
Delicious Stylings and prints
Welcome to her world

Major Moment #2 : Fashion Bridges Viviers Studio and Federico Cina

Fashion Bridges has become a big fixture in every season because of the excitement that accompanies it. Fashion Bridges is a partnership created by the Italian Embassy in South Africa which transports parts of our fashion worlds to each other. This season was very important as this was the first time Viviers Studio would be showcasing at SAFW. There’s a little glitch in the matrix. It doesn’t make sense that this is the first time because they have become such a fixture in the South African Fashion context independently. I actually didn’t know who Federico Cina was until they were announced and that’s no shade. I was introduced to DROMe by this project and now I am obsessed with them (who can forget the Italian Ambassador saying “She’s young. She’s talented. She’s famous. DROMe!”) I digress (tell me something new).

 

There is one thing that I must say. THE CASTING of these shows was spectacular. I don’t think any show could light a candle to the casting. Cina shows a deeply considered reflection on home and what that word means. Using tapestries and intriguing prints coupled with distressing and raw edges, it transports us to this rough and playful childhood without ever being childlike. Viviers Studio transports us to the Karoo and explores the terrain intelligently through textile and photographic prints. With interesting Jewellery by Kirsten Goss and my cheeky favourite accessory being the Shoprite leather bag by Cape Cobra Leathercraft, this show stays focused on the mysticism and state of the Karoo. This show was excellent and possibly the main highlight of Fashion Week.

It’s that time of the show (Yes, I am calling this a show because I have paraded myself for your entertainment) where I condense my thoughts about a brand’s latest collection into 17 syllables. It’s –

Reviews as Haikus! (Part 2)

Ephymol
Ephymol in green
Hiding in tailored glamour
Camouflage Supreme

SAFWSS23 Refuse

Refuse Clothing Brand:
Delightful Streetwear
Clean but full of edgy risks
Fabulous graphics

SAFWSS23 Fikile Sokhulu

Fikile Sokhulu:
Full billowing sleeves
A push for commercial-wear
Where can I buy you

Major Moment #3: Mr Price New Talent Search Competition.

Everyone is always looking at this particular show as it is a reflection of the most exciting brands who are ready to take the next step. This is all about the new and fresh. The upcoming designers presented their take on prints. This season, Mr Price joined as the sponsor for the competition, with their shoes appearing on the runway. The potential impact of this partnership is incredible and will elevate so many young designers in the future.

The competition was incredibly tight and each of those designers put so much effort into their work. I definitely want to commend Cyla Gonsolves on her win and wonderful collection. Her whimsical pastel-elegant looks were a confection. Someone I thought was right on her tail was Artae. I loved their use of print and the silhouettes to create this image of the girl on the go who had a little too much fun in art class, looked in the mirror and said, “I am stunning; hear me slay.” It was my favourite for sure. Another designer I would like to shout out is Oyama Gonintebe who has this very slick collection but I wish they had focused on one print and then developed that motif. One of the highlights of this show was the returning victor, Thando Ntuli who presented her collection titled Isikhathi. When you have a masterclass in how to do it, you better take notes.

SAFWSS23 Cycla Gonsolves
SAFWSS23 Artae
SAFWSS23 Oyama Gonintebe

As I step out on the stage like the end of an episode of Saturday Night Live, I have to advocate for all of you to go to the pages of each designer you enjoyed and buy something. One of the positives of supporting South African fashion is that our labour law protects workers from outright exploitation. All of the designers showing at SAFW have sustainability on their minds in varying capacities. Most importantly, tell your friends about these brands. Engagement improves visibility and that’s how you get to show your support if you can’t afford to buy into the brand.

One of the things I wrestled with was how many people invited were brought to increase awareness. I know that this is how the game works,  but I would love to see more buyers from African countries. While more people watching is important, the more we see our brands stocked and purchased, the more that brings back to our economy. To think on an insular level will only hinder our growth as an emerging fashion ecosystem. As we watch SA Fashion Week, we want to watch new talent but also we need to retain our talent. That is done by creating a lucrative platform that not only provides awareness but helps them turn that awareness into sales.

This brings you to the end of my Interlude takeover. SA Fashion Week is always an important time because the fashion industry coalesces and important discussions are had. I always walk away from it knowing more, seeing more and complaining more. If you loved it, I’m Ulindelwe. If you didn’t enjoy it, my name is Holly Beaton.

I’ll be here all week- try the quiche.

Loves it,
Ulindelwe

Images courtesy of Eunice Driver
Written by: Ulindelwe Ratsibe

For more news, visit the Connect Everything Collective homepage www.ceconline.co.za

‘The Great Escape’ – A run down of Thabo Bester & Dr Nandipha’s Criminal Saga

Apr 26, 2023 | News, Community

Where do we even begin with this one, fellow South Africans? For the last month, the nation has been enthralled by the seemingly surreal and eerie saga of convicted Facebook rapist and murderer, Thabo Bester, and his accomplice Dr Nandipha Mangudmana – a self-styled celebrity doctor and social media influencer. There are so many levels to this drama, and the more glued that I remain to eNCA’s coverage (senior reporter Sli Masikane deserves an award for her work) as it reveals the intense levels of corruption rotting at the centre of all of our institutions, the more I find myself dumbfounded by the existential dread of our world. While there are many angles to discuss – from the prison industrial complex, gender-based violence, corruption, multi-national influences on the state, murder – it seems the most obvious takeaway from all of this is; money really can buy you anything. Money, it seems, is the tool at the heart of this crime; money for its power, money for its control, scams that reap money and grease the right hands, and the way money portrays people in a different social status, and thus more favourably in the eyes of society.  

Thabo Bester, a certified scam-artist, abuser, rapist and murderer managed to run a multi-million Rand FAKE media company from the Mangaung Correctional Centre, co-conspired with Dr Nandipha, while also reportedly going and out of prison, aided by officials, for luxury long weekends in Ballito. Then, in a startingly turn of events, it was reported that in May 2022, he had died by arson-inflicted suicide in his jail cell. Well, so we thought. Rather, Thabo Bester, aided by a variety of people (Dr Nandipha, her father, prison officials and reported higher-ranking officials) was smuggled out of prison, to live thereafter in Sandton, Johannesburg in a R12 Million home, going by the name ‘TK Mkwana’. A convicted rapist and murderer was unleashed into the country, unbeknownst to his victims, or to anyone whose safety might be threatened. Not until the heroes at GroundUp, a NPO news agency, began breaking the news that we, as the public of South Africa, were brought into the fold of what Mangaung Prison (run by British conglomerate G4S, one of only two privately owned prisons in the country), G4S and the Department of Correctional Services tentatively knew about for just under a year. In a story touted by online commentators as the makings of a South African Netflix Special; Thabo Bester and Dr Nandipha were spotted via cellphone footage purchasing groceries at Woolworths in Sandton, as reported by GroundUp’s multiple instalment journalistic investigation. With metadata proving the authenticity of the image, national outrage ensued – and then, without a trace, Dr Nandipha and Thabo Bester had fled the country, becoming fugitives across the continent. Police Minister Bheki Cele quickly came to the forefront, stating various things in his multiple press conferences to assuage the public  that ‘they were close to catching them’ and that ‘police inaction was a strategic part of the investigation until now’ – in other words, the incompetence of SAPS continued to dimly light the way. If it were not for the police force in Tanzania, the discovery and arrest of Bester and Magudumana might not have taken place as it did, in the early hours of Friday morning on the 7 April near the Tanzanian and Kenyan border.

Thabo Bester and Dr Nandipha caught in Tanzania /// source: @chriseldalewis / Twitter 
Dr Nandipha Magudumana’s father, Zolile Cornelius Sekeleni and former G4S prison warder Senohe Matsoara appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on 11 April 2023 /// source: @AphumeleleMdla2 / Twitter 

As officials from South Africa dispatched to Tanzania to deal with the matter, parliamentary proceedings concurrently began by the National Assembly and a host of brilliant MPs. With EFF’s Yoliswa Yako, DA’s Glynnis Breytenbach and ANC’s Anthea Ramolobeng among the members who fiercely and meticulously grilled G4S Director Cobus Groenewould, Mangaung Correctional Centre’s Director Joseph Monyante and Audit and Risk Director Gert Byleveld – these proceedings were perhaps the only comfort in this whole saga – that when truly able to, our MPs can enact on behalf of us, a commitment to truth and justice. Initially, G4S sent their legal representatives to the first meeting; much to the dismay of the National Assembly. After requesting a court summons, G4S managed to show face (and retain parliamentary privilege) – with a number of bizarre truths coming to light. The escape aside, which I implore you to read in the the incredible journalistic coverage by Ground-Up and subsequently by platforms like Mail & Guardian, eNCA, Daily Maverick and so on – Thabo Bester arrived at Mangaung Correctional Centre as a ‘high-risk prisoner’ whom guards were warned to not engage with due to manipulative tendencies. It has been reported that since 2017, Dr Nandipha had been visiting the prisoner; allegedly they met back in 2006, and have had an on and off relationship. It seems that the two have been engaged in a very long, toxic relationship – to which Tiktok commenters have been saying, “Dr Nandi, all this for a MAN?”.

The award for most luxurious prison-stays certainly goes to Bester – although, in all his narcissistic, social pariah energy – this whole circus has certainly made the secrecy-coded ndotas of the Nommer shriek with laughter, countrywide. Thabo Bester was allowed to participate in online education, as can be conducted by prisoners, and so through completing a ‘graphic design course’  was able to retain his personal laptop. The very laptop that he used to commit fraud in his various scams, even streaming live into an event for his company ‘21st Century Media’ networking event, orchestrated by he and Dr Nandipha, attended by a host of South African celebrities. Please watch the video here – of Bester under his alias ‘Tom’, being sung Happy Birthday to, suited up in what was presumably an area of the prison. You really can’t make this shit up. Bester’s business record, 21st Century Media & Sky Digital among others, are described by Mail & Guardian as blatant and almost laughable copies of legitimate companies; apparently, Bester’s graphic design course from prison taught him the subtle art of subliminal, psychological techniques in advertising; “ ‘Sky Digital’, the logo of which was displayed on a banner at the 21st Century Media launch event and bore a striking resemblance to the logo of the UK-based television network Sky News. The logos for 21st Century Media and 21st Century Group displayed on the banner were also very similar to those of their real counterparts. Promotion social media posts for the “Women in Media” conference include a logo for ‘UBS Group’, which is almost identical to the logo of the Swiss investment giant UBS.”

The duo caught buying orange juice in Woolies, Sandton - photo supplied to Ground Up, who broke the story of Thabo Bester’s escape /// source: groundup.org.za
The R12 Million Hyde Park mansion that Bester and Magudumana occupied after his escape, and subsequently fled from when the news of their crimes broke /// source: Alaister Russell

Bonnie & Clyde sentiments aside, it appears that Dr Nandipha was a more than willing accomplice; going so far as to expose her young daughters to her relationship with Thabo Bester, when he eventually lived with them after his escape. Since her arrest, it has been reported that Dr Nandipha is bargaining with the police to expose the depth and breadth of Bester’s crimes; such as provides details on the missing domestic worker and gardener (believed to be buried at their Hyde Park mansion), and the details of how the young man identified as the burned body in Bester’s jail cell, Katlego Mpholo, arrived at the end of his life in such a cruel and sickening manner. The Mpholo family, who were informed only recently, that their missing son (whom they had been searching for since March 2022) will be suing the state, who are yet to disclose just how Katlego’s body (and the blunt force trauma identified to be the cause of death, not the fire) ended up in cell 35 at Mangaung Correctional Centre. This comes in after it has been reported that Dr Nandipha attempted to have three bodies released to her from a mortuary in Bloemfontein. So, what happened? Did they murder and hide Katlego’s body, or did they retrieve a missing person from a mortuary, despite his family continually checking morgues and hospitals since his disappearance? With so many headache-inducing details surrounding this case, I’d like to bring it back to my initial statement, one that multiple experts have weighed in on: Thabo Bester could not have done close to anything he did in and outside of prison, without bribing many, many people. Right now, the five co-accused are the low-level tip of the iceberg; with Thabo and Dr Nandipha at the centre of it. Once again, innocent people are held hostage by the corruptive transactions that have seeped their way into every aspect of our country’s institutions; whether public or private, as demonstrated by G4S’ handling of this entire debacle. If you’d like to know more about G4S, I refer you to the work of journalist Ruth Hopkins – who has spent much of her career exposing the insidious inner-workings of our prison system, least not ‘The Misery Merchants’ specifically exposing G4S and the Mangaung facility. 

This case is unfolding, with more arrests allegedly ahead – only time will tell just how much the National Prosecuting Authority will succeed in bringing the full truth to light. In its wake, this criminal saga – though Hollywood-style it seems – leaves the Mpholo family mourning their son Katlego’s life, two people potentially buried in a garden in Hyde Park, and the victims and their family’s of Thabo Bester, traumatised and confused by how a convicted prisoner could do more harm, nearly to avail. What a strange episode in South Africa’s story this is, indeed. 

Featured Image of Thabo Bester by Frikkie Kapp, Gallo Images and Dr. Nandipha by Nigel Sibanda.

Written by: Holly Beaton

For more news, visit the Connect Everything Collective homepage www.ceconline.co.za

Savanna X Wanda Lephoto X Metalabs launch world-first recycled NFT via auction

Apr 26, 2023 | News, Fashion

Savanna Premium Cider has partnered with the prolific South African designer Wanda Lephoto to bring you the limited-edition fashion collection ‘Dry Goods’ – waterproof apparel for a world underwater, only available for sale to persons over the age of 18.

This premium range, made from recycled materials, goes beyond the aesthetics of ‘dope’ and makes a meaningful statement about sustainability by embracing the inevitability of climate change. As the ultimate dry brand, it only makes sense that in a world of rising sea levels, melting icebergs and unpredictable weather, they would create a clothing range that would allow you to stay dripping and dry, even when you’re dripping wet.

The streets are not the place where this range is to be found. Savanna Dry goods are also coming to the Metaverse near you. With the help of Wanda Lephoto and Metalabs Africa, Savanna’s has created a unique set of digital collectables which brings this campaign’s sustainability message to the digital realm.

Wanda Lephoto has created six different one-of-one outfits designed to be 3D modelled and rendered into digital collectables by the NFT gurus at Metalabs. An auction for these collectables commenced on the 25th of April on the Nifty Gateway digital art auction platform, where each of the NFTs will have been minted on the Ethereum Network. The Ethereum blockchain’s recent transition from Proof of Work to Proof of Stake makes it the only viable network to mint eco-friendly digital collectables. Since it undertook the transition, its electricity consumption and carbon footprint have decreased by 99.988 % and 99.992%, respectively. 

However, as a campaign with a real intent to make a statement about society’s attitude towards sustainable living, they knew they couldn’t simply stop at creating NFTs. They had to take a step further. So Savanna, Wanda and Metalabs asked themselves – what happens to disused NFTs? Which gave them an idea. For the first time anywhere, ever, Savanna, in partnership with Wanda and Metalabs, has created a digital collectable comprised of the data of burnt NFTs, recycled through design, thereby effectively creating the world’s first recycled NFT. This first of its kind digital piece will be placed on auction for one day only on the 29 th of April and also on the Nifty Gateway platform. The recycled data garment will be accompanied by a digital avatar usable in most metaverses.

100% of the proceeds from the sale of the ‘Dry Goods’ premium waterproof apparel range collaboration between Savanna and Wanda Lephoto, including the digital collectables, will be donated to GreenUp, a leading organisation focused on climate action, environmental education, and community resilience.

Image 1: CAMOUFLAGE AND PLAID PRINT CLASH TRENCH COAT WITH UTILITY VEST POCKETS
Image 2: DESTRUCTED PLAID MUSLIN SUIT
Image 3: YELLOW PUFFER SUIT JACKET
Image 4: EXTENDED PUFFER COAT
Image 5: DOUBLE PLAID CHECK DRESS
Image 6: YELLOW TRENCH COAT WITH TYPE 2 SAVANNA ACACIA TREE AND PLAID PATCH WORK JACKET

FOR AUCTION DETAILS, HEAD HERE.

Savanna promotes responsible drinking. Not for persons under 18. 

/// “Waterproof apparel for a world underwater” Campaign 
Photography : Andrea Baioni, Warren Van Rensburg & Paul Samuels (Lampost)
Film Director : Mzonke Maloney (Carbon Films)
Agency Grey/WPP Team Liquid
Brand : Savanna Cider
Make-up : Alex Botha
Hair : Saadique Ryklief
Models : Kopano Selebano, Yemi Okesokun, Curtis Cornwall, Anke Gabler, Khaya Ngubane

A re-release of the late, great Terry Callier’s ‘Hidden Conversations’ in collaboration with Massive Attack

Apr 25, 2023 | New Release, Music

The late, great Terry Callier was an icon and inspiration to many; his work on Cadet Records with Charles Stepney and Elektra in the 70s made him a cult artist. After coming out of musical semi-retirement and returning to the stage in the 90s, Terry’s light continued to shine, wowing both old and new audiences with the exquisite beauty his music and voice channelled. 

Following his stunning performance at the 2008 Meltdown Festival, curated by Massive Attack, Terry teamed up with the legendary British trio, which resulted in ‘Hidden Conversations’. Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja co-wrote ‘Wings’, ‘John Lee Hooker’, and ‘Live With Me’. The combination of Robert Del Naja’s haunting production and Terry’s captivating, emotive vocals fused beautifully. Terry collaborated with the producers Christopher Grabowski and Mark Hardy on the remaining other songs on the album. 

Originally released on CD only in 2009, this new RSD edition is the first time it has been available on vinyl and comes housed in a tip-on sleeve, 180g black vinyl, and features an OBI strip with new cover art and design by Mr Krum.

Stream ‘Hidden Conversations’ HERE

Comic Con Cape Town 2023 is happening this weekend!

Apr 24, 2023 | News, Community

Unleash your superhero alter ego at the highly anticipated Comic Con Cape Town next weekend (27 to 30 April) at CTICC 2. With dress up, numerous free-to-play gaming areas, tabletop gaming, shopping, movie screenings, activations and so much more on offer, families are in for a weekend to remember!

Cosplay – which stands for costume play – is one of the best ways to embrace the Comic Con spirit. For families looking to fully submerge themselves in the experience as a group, family cosplays are a fun bonding moment for everyone to enjoy, and not as uncommon as one might think. Meanwhile, along with the kids, parents can enjoy learning more about the most binge worthy series from the stars themselves. Comic Con Cape Town’s celeb line-up includes Aaron from The Walking Dead (Ross Marquand) and Tati Gabrielle – who features in the movie adaptation of the game Uncharted, as well as Netflix’s You. Kat Graham is also joining this year and is known for her role in Vampire Diaries and the romcom Love in the Villa on Netflix. The line-up also includes – David Oakes from Vikings Valhalla, and Jason R Moore from Marvel’s The Punisher. Fans will discover some personal and behind the scenes information as well as get to know these incredible talents even better, and even meet them face-to-face over an autograph or photo op that is perfect for the fridge!

For aspiring content creators, StreamerCon is an exciting addition to the con floor. In this space, fans can learn more about what it takes to get into content creation as a career across all platforms including YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch – as well as meeting some of South Africa’s top local streamers.

More than dressing up and celebrities, the Artist Alley will inspire young and old fans alike. An incredible amount of local talent as well as international artists will be showcasing their work – some of which have worked on major Marvel and DC comic books. Fans can get signed copies of prints, comics, and other merchandise from the creators that bring their favourite superheroes to life, as well as discover a few new ones along the way. Taking home mementos will be easy, you can start or expand any collection with the vast range of merchandise related to each aspect of the con at exhibitor stands. From clothing items, accessories, graphic novels, collectibles, to even action figures – you name it, the Con has it. Harry Potter wands, incredible statues, and the most unique memorabilia will be for sale.

The gaming area will offer free-play as well as numerous free-to-play tournaments across the weekend – allowing anyone in the family to hop on a console and try their hand at FIFA, racing simulators, Fortnite, and more! Families could even win cash prizes for gaming with the Doritos Crunch Cup tournaments which happen daily.

RGB and Eduvos will be hosting a tournament on the con floor, which also highlights the connection between gaming and education. For animation lovers, the collocated Cape Town International Animation festival will host workshops, panel discussions and screenings throughout the weekend. With incredible local content to see, and one ticket giving you access to both shows on Thursday and Friday, families are encouraged to pop by and marvel at the work done in South Africa, as well as learn about the numerous career opportunities this industry offers.

A limited number of tickets are available on Howler. 

Make sure to check out the Comic Con Cape Town Website for more information on the programme to plan your day.

* Children are required to be attended by a guardian at all times, Comic Con Cape Town does not offer a child drop zone or childcare facilities. Kids 5 and under enter free.

Meet the Design Futures Lab 2023 Creatives

Apr 24, 2023 | News, Community

This year a musicians, artisanal fashion designers, culture activists and artists join cutting-edge photographers, filmmakers and creative technologists for the second edition of Design Futures Lab. After considerable deliberation, six Zimbabweans and six South Africans will participate in a four-day workshop from 9 to 12 May in Cape Town, before they create an immersive sustainable fashion prototype,“Year two of the Design Futures Lab brings with it a new cohort of talented creatives and technologists committed to sustainability and we can’t wait to support their experimentation in the XR futures of fashion and design,” says Electric South’s Antoinette Engel. The creatives will work in six teams of two. Each team receives a grant of R60 000.00 to develop their concepts. The digital lab (including a one-day workshop about sustainable fashion) will train and inspire the participants in preparation for their projects. The deadline to submit their final prototypes is in August.

Multi-disciplinary artist, Larah Fischer (aka Luh’ra) who will be working with Keith Dliwayo, says, “We feel honoured to be selected and so excited about expanding our current skills set, learning news skills, and having some fun!” The Design Futures Lab is a collaborative project aimed at promoting young talent through driving innovation. Design Futures Lab invites artisans to explore the connection between extended reality and sustainable fashion.“We are delighted to welcome twelve creatives to join us this year to hear from experts about the latest developments in sustainable fashion,” says Jackie May, founder of Twyg. The Project Partners are Electric South, Twyg, Korokoza, Crossover Labs and is supported by the British Council. Tawanada Mudonga of Korokoza, the lab’s new partner, says, “We are so proud to be a part of this groundbreaking collaboration and excited about an initiative which is sure to change the digital technologist landscape in Southern Africa.”

Final selection of creatives ///

Tarryn Tippens (aka Bambi) and Larnelle Bakala

/// Tarryn Tippens | Artist and Designer
 Tarryn Tippens is an artist and designer based in Johannesburg/Cape Town, South Africa. Creating under the pseudonym ‘Bambi’, her label of the same name is rooted firmly in small scale, handmade garments; with an emphasis on knitwear and handcrafting. Using natural fibres and local fibres, her design practice is bound by her commitment to eco-dyeing with natural dyes, repurposing and up-cycling – weaving together a vision for a more intimate relationship between garments and the wearer. Tarryn believes in energetically imbuing her clothing intention and seeks to create in line with a critically aware perspective of human and planetary health. Incorporating an exploration into crystal healing practices in the design process, alongside research and application of textiles as an intangible, healing component for the body, Tarryn’s work exists at the intersection of cultural, social and ecological evolution beyond the dire “fast fashion” system. 

Follow Tarry Tippens on Instagram @bambi.com

/// Larnelle Bakala | Filmmaker, Director and Photographer
Larnelle Bakala is a 25-year- old filmmaker, director and photographer based in Cape Town, South Africa. Bakala has worked with musicians such as Uncle Waffles and brands such as Nike, to create films that help African youth tell stories about their unique experiences in the creative industry. Bakala is inspired by community and by bringing people together through storytelling, as he believes this promotes learning and growth by leaning on each other. 

Follow Larnelle Bakala on Instagram @lordnelle

Tarryn Tippens / BAMBI
Larnelle Bakala

Siza Mukwedini and Plot Mhako

/// Siza Mukwedini | New Media Content Producer
Siza is a Film and New Media Content Producer based in Zimbabwe. To Siza, storytelling is the oldest form of communication and that is the medium we choose to tell stories that are ever-changing. She has committed her life to staying knowledgeable about new media and new technologies. An IT specialist and technology fanatic, Siza has produced a wide array of content, from AR pieces, photo and surface-based, 360 filming and photography, VR world building, and animation. She is the founder of Matamba Film Labs for Women. The labs train women on new media storytelling tools and connect them to opportunities. In 2015, Siza was selected for the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders for her role in using film as a tool for social engagement. She has produced various award-winning current affairs and documentary features on women and development issues for renowned broadcasters such as the BBC, Al Jazeera and VOA. 

Follow Siza Mukwedini on Instagram @SizaMukwedini

/// Plot Mhako | Creative Director, Journalist, Digital creator and Youth Culture Activist
Plot Mhako is a creative director, journalist, digital creator and youth culture activist from Zimbabwe. He is co-founder of Jibilika Dance Trust, a youth culture incubator, and digital creator and founder of the award winning earGROUND Digital Media. Plot documents and amplifies creative voices. He is also co-curator of Amplifaya festival and the Creative Business Conference, as well as the co-artistic director of Mafuwe International Festival of Dance. He is also co-founder of Kuenda Productions a multi-disciplinarian, and intercultural production company working in Dance, Theatre, Music, visual art and management operating in Uganda, Zimbabwe and Germany; co-organiser of the Zimbabwe Hip Hop Summit, Zimdancehall Summit; co-founder and organiser of SKATE ZIMBABWE which works to empower youths in communities. Plot is a fellow with the Mandela Washington Fellowship (Young Africa Leadership Initiative) YALI 2015, International Society For Performing Arts (ISPA) 2016 and 2020, International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) Hip Hop and Civic Engagement Fellow (2012) 

Follow Plot Mhako on Instagram @plotmhako

Siza Mukwedini
Plot Mhako

Larah Fischer (aka Luh’ra ) and Keith Dliwayo (aka Keith Virgo)

/// Larah Fischer | Artist:
 Luh’ra is a Cape Town based artist who expresses herself through music. With a degree in architecture and a background in numerous creative fields, Luh’ra is a well-rounded artist who encompasses music, art, photography, film, food, events and fashion. Her skill sets have led her to work in leading companies within these fields. Following her architecture degree, she interned with architecture firm URBA. Within the contemporary art space, she worked with blank projects gallery working closely with some of the country’s leading artists. Behind the music scenes, she has worked with artist management and booking agency, Black Major representing forward-thinking musicians as as well as managing press and media for experimental music festival Search. Within the film Luh’ra has directed music videos for artists locally and internationally. She has also collaborated with various local fashion brands in various capacities. As a musician Luh’ra has released 2 EP’s and performed on acclaimed stages across South Africa with some of the country’s best up-and-coming and established musicians. Her music has reached international audiences through various playlists, airing on radio stations such as Worldwide FM and NTS, as well as live performances on global platforms such as Sofar.

Follow Larah Fischer on Instagram @luh.ra

/// Keith Dliwayo | Multidisciplinary Artist: 
Keith Sphiwe Mpumelelo Dliwayo better known by his artist’s name Keith Virgo, is a multidisciplinary artist from Johannesburg and is currently based in Cape Town, South Africa. He works in various mediums of arts which stems from his love of storytelling. His work varies from photography, visual arts and hand knitting crafts as well as handmade jewellery. He has exhibited his works in Cape Town, Amsterdam and New York.

Follow Keith Dliwayo on Instagram @iamkeithvirgo

Larah Fisher
Keith Virgo

Chipo Mapondera and Sabina Mutsvati

/// Chipo Mapondera | Software Developer
Chipo Mapondera has worked for top fashion companies including VOGUE, ELLE, CHANEL, and the NET-A-PORTER Group for over a decade. Her experience and expertise encompass fashion editorial, marketing and technology. Her current role as a software developer allows her to explore new technologies that engage consumers and help fashion brands reach their audiences.

Follow Chipo Mapondera on Instagram @chipomapondera_

/// Sabina Mutsvati | Multidisciplinary Artist: 
Sabina Mutsvati graduated from Harare Polytechnic College with a Diploma in Fine Art and a National Certificate in Art and Design. Sabina is also a film wardrobe and costume designer trained by Women Filmmakers of Zimbabwe. She has taught Basic Design as a Project lecturer at the Zimbabwe Institute of Visual Arts. Passionate about art, Sabina’s aim is to share her creative ideas with all those who are open to receiving them. Her designs are inspired by the never-ending roles of women in her Shona culture. Working with a variety of materials to help tell these women’s stories. She makes use of recycled materials while bringing in familiar elements and giving them new metaphorical meaning and purpose.

Follow Sabina Mutsvati on Instagram @sabinam71

Chipo Mapondera
Sabina Mutsvati

Rufaro Magara and Ryan Harvey

/// Rufaro Magara | Unity Developer and XR Enthusiast
 Rufaro Magara is a Zimbabwean-raised, South African-based Unity Developer and XR Enthusiast. He studied Game Design and Electrical Engineering at Wits University but later moved to the University of South Africa to study for a Bachelor of Science in Informatics. Currently in his final year at UNISA while freelancing as a Unity Developer based in Johannesburg. He holds a Unity (C#) Game Development Certificate awarded by Treehouse in addition to his creative practices in the technology space using software such as Unity(C#) Game Engine, Blender, and Spark AR being the tools. He is experienced in Augmented Reality within Unity using ARCore and Vuforia and in designing Instagram and Meta AR effects/filters allowing him to gain strong hands-on analytical and articulate viewpoint skills over the years. His latest achievement has been being selected to be a part of Africa Games Week 2022 in Cape Town at the Me and The Machine Interactive Art Exhibition in which an interactive piece of AR he created in Unity was part of the exhibition.

Follow Rufaro Magara on Instagram @justrmag

/// Ryan Harvey | Multi-disciplinary artist
 Ryan Harvey (b. 2000, Durban) is a trans-masc multi-disciplinary artist working across various mediums including animation, illustration, painting, photography, sound design, and videography to create worlds that conjure up complicated feelings within an audience. As an autistic artist, Ryan is attracted to uncomfortable art as a tool to help other people explore his complex emotions and make them confront the difficult truths about being autistic. Drawn to darker subject matter, Ryan seeks to challenge the notion of aesthetic merit opting instead for uneasy imagery that confronts the complacency of the art world and society more widely. 

Follow Ryan Harvey on Instagram @uglycryan

Rufaro Magara
Ryan Harvey

Jackson Chifamba and Joel Chandauka

/// Jackson Chifamba | Fashion Designer, Stylist, Software Engineering Student
Currently based in Harare, Jackson is a self-taught fashion designer, stylist, thrift collector and software engineering student. He is the founder of a 100% upcycled and handmade clothing brand that specialises in denim conceptualism, deconstruction and reconstruction. In 2021 Jackson showcased the first one of one collection at the Skeyi and Strobo Fabrik Party, and did so again the following year with his second denim collection Rotation of The Earth. Jackson has also collaborated with photographers on character concepts while continuing to create street style content using his background as a software engineering student to infuse his passions. 

Follow Jackson Chifamba on Instagram @jaxxongram

/// Joel Chandauka | Digital Creative Technologist
Joel Chandauka is a digital creative technologist specialising in 3D design and animation. Growing up, Joel was always fascinated by how cartoons were made, and as a result discovered 2D and 3D programs such as Blender and Adobe Animate. He is self-taught and always striving to improve. He believes that the limitations of his country have held back a lot of people who have similar interests and so he feels inclined to tackle these hardships and give hope to those who are giving up. 

Follow Joel Chandauka on Instagram @joel_zw

Jackson Chifamba
Joel Chandauka

/// DFL Project Partners

Electric South has an award-winning track record in producing storytelling expressed in an immersive format. We run labs and workshops for creators, demonstrating cutting edge work and growing their practical skill set. We provide ongoing creative and technical mentorship to our artists in production. We regularly exhibit work and give talks at local and international festivals and events to evangelise new digital immersive media. Through our digital platforms, we share knowledge, tools and resources. Our aim is to grow the ecosystem of artists using new immersive technologies for storytelling in Africa and to facilitate collaborative information exchanges on the African continent. For the Design Futures Lab 2023 Electric South, a non-profit providing support and mentorship to digital visual storytellers, will implement a 3-day in-person lab in Cape Town. The focus will be on developing digital prototype/proof of concept ideas inspired by Twyg’s sustainable fashion workshops taking place at the top of the lab. Electric South will explore a number of different creative approaches including 360 filmmaking, volumetric capture, world-building, avatar creation, and augmented reality.

Twyg is a not-for-profit media platform using storytelling, experiences and campaigns to promote a way of being that is sustainable, circular and ethical. One of its projects, the Twyg Sustainable Fashion Awards is a first-of-its-kind annual event that strive to celebrate and support South African designers, creators, thought-leaders, and innovators who use best practices to help change fashion. For the Design Futures Lab, Twyg is designing a series of virtual workshops about sustainability, decoloniality and regeneration as it relates to growing, making, wearing and wasting fashion in Africa. By challenging the participants to reflect on the fashion industry, Twyg will introduce ideas that will germinate stories about the future of fashion. Korokoza is a creative media organisation focused on providing skills development, networking, and market access for artists, designers, writers, and technologists in Zimbabwe.

Crossover Labs are immersive media specialists, experts in the curation and creation of cutting-edge projects that combine technical innovation and storytelling.  We like to collaborate with artists and technologists to present immersive, interactive work that will resonate with audiences around the world. Our series of eight live cinema documentaries combine stunning archive footage from the past century with contemporary soundtracks composed by popular musicians. In our Labs, Crossover works with top industry mentors, incorporating design thinking and bespoke methodologies in order to encourage meaningful collaborations between different creative artists and technologists. We run workshops on Immersive Media development, VR and 360 video production and photogrammetry. Our workshops focus on the development of project ideas centred on story and audience development and routes to market. Crossover Labs will facilitate market access and feedback. All selected concepts will gain access to South Africa and UK markets with a keen focus on grants, funding and festival strategies.

The British Council’s Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Arts programme works in the diverse and varied countries of Sub-Saharan Africa and the U.K. Individually, each country and art sector has much to offer and exchange – collectively they tell multi-layered stories of 7 contemporary Sub-Saharan Africa and the U.K. Our arts programmes are underpinned by research, focused on young people, and are committed to; Supporting the creation of new art and sharing this art to audiences both online and in-person, sharing skills and knowledge between creative communities in the countries of SSA and the U.K and Creating new connections between young people. Our programmes are delivered by partners (artists, arts professionals, arts organisations, collectives, hubs) who have the vision and understanding of their creative communities and are best placed to lead and tell the stories of their local art sectors. With our partners, we stimulate new ways of connecting with and understanding each other through the arts. Design Futures Lab 2023 forms part of our Creative Economy programme in South Africa and aims to support young creatives with skills, opportunities, and knowledge that they need to build sustainable creative enterprises, build rich and provocative digital content and facilitate greater access to Markets.

The sustainable fashion workshop, hosted by Twyg, takes place on 9 May 2023 in Cape Town.
The digital lab, hosted by Electric South, and Korokoza takes place in-person from 10 -12 May in Cape Town.

For more news, visit the Connect Everything Collective homepage www.ceconline.co.za

The Spellbinding Sustainability of Alexa Schempers’ label ‘Rethread’

Apr 23, 2023 | Interviews, Fashion

Alexa Schempers was always meant to be in fashion. Design as a pathway into the industry is usually set on a course laid out by traditional education models of : moodboard, illustration, pattern-making and garment construction, so on and so forth. Usually, it attracts a particular person, with a particular kind of creative hunger; and while Alexa certainly has this ‘hunger’, it would be business and commerce that would be her segue in fashion. This, I believe, lends to the demonstrable success of Alexa’s brand Rethread; a cult-favourite label that has taken South Africa by storm, and then some. It’s not just the recent moment of seeing Rethread being adored by Julia Fox f or their 38.5k followers on TikTok – those are, in fact, by-products of the deep dedication Alexa has built her brand from, comprising of a three-part design category structure that enables sustainability to be, in every way possible, the beating heart of the Rethread vision. This is not neutral-tone, flaxseed sustainability – no – this is sustainability as sexy, sustainability as spell-binding & as earnest as it gets. I argue that Alexa is part of a wave of young designers and entrepreneurs around the world to showcase the power of building a small-scale fashion brand, from the ground up, with an uncompromising commitment to doing things differently.

Having grown up with her expressly chic mother in the tranquil town of Knysna – it was her joy to travel with her on shopping trips down to Cape Town, to be immersed in the city with shops and style abound. When it was time for Alexa to study, however – she pursued a business degree with a focus on marketing. In our conversation, she expresses how she knew in her heart that fashion was her true calling; so when she made her way to the Netherlands, embarking on a Masters in ‘Fashion Enterprise Creation’ at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute. Reflecting, Alexa says, “It was a two year program, and the whole idea of the course was to plan and test a sustainable fashion business under the mentorship of the lectures, so it was a really amazing space to be in. The Netherlands is quite ahead of the curve, and they are very focused on sustainability and recycling – not just in the fashion and textiles industries. I had access to examples of sustainability and circularity not just as a theory, but also directly with people with working examples as career paths of functioning businesses. We broke down every aspect of a fashion business, and applied sustainability to each of those – how to include services and enhance a business model with as much in one’s toolbox.” For their final project, the students had to test, produce and market a fashion brand in partnership with students from the London College of Fashion; and the vision of upcycling became crystal-clear, as Aelxa explains, “Rethread was born in that incubator. Instinctively, I was drawn to the idea of using waste as resource – as someone who loves to shop, and loves fashion and experimenting with style – ‘re-fashion’, such as upcycling or resale, was the strongest forms of circularity that I wanted to test, as both an entrepreneur and a consumer.

Fast forward a few years (and a whole pandemic), and Rethread is a fully-fledged and active part of South Africa’s scene. I think those iconic suit sets will forever be imprinted in the minds of us fashion girlies – and the earliest indication of Rethread’s commitment to doing sustainability differently, like the ingenious restructuring of deadstock men’s blazers, with slashed hemlines and the signature Rethread burnt orange stitching. For Alexa, circularity has to be enacted across everything they do, and it’s for this reason that Rethread offers three ways of purchasing: a three-part design category of an upcycled collection, sustainably-made and pre-loved. This ensures that her Rethread community can find something across the whole business, while also showcasing the varying ways sustainability as a model is possible in fashion. On the challenges, Alexa says, “I think because we have three different categories – upcycling, ready-to-wear and vintage – it’s kind of like running three, micro-systems under one business. As a small business, figuring one thing out is difficult enough, so the variety is quite challenging. Zooming into each process offers its whole host of challenges, but I think upcycling is perhaps the most unique frontier to face in terms of production. We use vintage garments, taking them apart and re-designing them, and being able to offer this as a product hinges entirely on the availability of supply. There are not many people willing to work in that method because it’s non-traditional, and you’re required to almost think backwards. Then, being able to scale upcycled concepts and designs so that we can offer varying sizes, and not just make once off pieces.”

Alexa’s use of TikTok is something to behold, with many viral videos – from explaining why a price-tag of sustainable fashion differs from fast-fashion prices, or where she sources her vintage pieces. Then, there was Julia Fox expressing love for the brand – leading to Alexa reaching out and sending some custom pieces to her. With TikTok, there has been an increase in international traction and interest; and while customer conversion is not as simple as ‘someone likes a video, and then makes a purchase’, social media has offered Rethread a way to be seen in the world. This is thanks to Alexa’s personal presence – and the knowing by her community and customers – that Rethread is born straight from her heart, to theirs, “I want Rethread to be relatable and personal, so I am very front-facing in the way that I share who I am, what we do and the story behind our garments. I didn’t want to just have a brand out in the world without any context behind it, especially with something like circularity or sustainability which is a relatively new way of thinking in the fashion industry. I also am very open about what would be called ‘trade secrets’ and that there is a culture of secrecy around; like, I want people to know that this is what you can do as a consumer or starting a brand. We need as many people as possible to be looking at waste as a resource, or tackling these issues both socially and environmentally; as cool and stylish as upcycling can be, it is also a really important thing that shouldn’t be gatekept. We are the one-stop sustainability shop for the fashion it-girl, and we want to lean more into this as our concept.”

This year is has seen some challenges, and with her imminent move to Cape Town from Knysna ahead, Alexa ends of by explaining the vision ahead – one that we remain in awe to witness, “I’m in a place where I have to make some difficult decisions, you know, cutting what’s not working and focusing on what does work. The evolution of the brand has been a continuation of learning from its earliest start as part of my Masters degree, and I’ve been learning along the way, this whole time. This next growth phase is about elevating our up-cycled designs, and continuing to define what makes Rethread, its own. I always refer to Rethread as something that is made of a toolbox, and the next thing I want to develop is our branding, and textile design, so that we can create more signature elements that make us unique. I think it’s really exciting to be in fashion, because while we are presented with huge crises, it is also bringing about so much innovation, so our design-led circularity has much more to evolve into.”

Written by: Holly Beaton

For more news, visit the Connect Everything Collective homepage www.ceconline.co.za

Be Cautious, It’s Cuffing Season

Apr 20, 2023 | Lifestyle

As the time for summer seltzers, sticky sunblock, and sand-covered toes rudely comes to an all too abrupt end, and mornings grow nothing but colder, darker and downright more inhospitable anywhere outside of the warm embrace of our duvets – we’re spending more time inside, more time in pyjamas (nothing wrong with that), but that, unfortunately for many of us, means we have more time to develop feelings of loneliness. So what does any sane, socially adjusted (in the most dystopian of terms) person do? Fix those frigid fingers on your phone and swipe away, looking for another warm body to brave the big bad winter with. I officially declare cuffing season is open, so let’s all  be a bit cautious.

Now I thought the term quite colloquial, but it came to my attention that it may not be as idiomatic as I thought, so here’s a little breakdown. Cuffing season refers to “a period of time where single people begin looking for short-term partnerships to pass the colder months of the year. Cuffing season usually begins.” A couple of things to take stock of. That definition was from the Merriam-Webster dictionary, and I always find it slightly amusing when archaic institutes tackle contemporary slang, great linguists of the past must be rolling in their graves. Secondly and more importantly, due to the very American origin of the dictionary, the timeframe for cuffing season varies. I have to hand it to Northern Hemisphere ‘cuffers’ who seem to hit some major milestones in their situationships; the Christmas break, family responsibilities, getting inebriated beyond belief on New Year’s all in time for the guy to royally fuck it up, scrambling for a tasteless and frankly shit bracelet outside Pandora just before Valentine’s, as illustrated by nearly every Christmas rom-com blockbuster. That’s a lot, and let’s just say that my commitment issues could never. In the South African context, we could probably place the start of the cuffing season around the beginning of autumn, which means all of April and the multitude of public holidays that accompany it. That means more time for those overly romantic weekends away, more cuddling and more time for the end of cuffing season and the start of hot boy/girl summer to hurt all the more. How beautifully toxic of us.

Is there any science behind this, or is it all simply a socially constructed phenomenon that makes us think we can get away with potentially breaking someone’s heart? Well, sex researcher Justin Lehmiller tries to get to the bottom of this. In a 2018 article for Vice, he wrote that although the term seemed to be widely accepted and acknowledged by most of us, the term had not yet made it into academic literature. Although as he mentions, that doesn’t mean the phenomenon doesn’t exist, as researchers have spent years studying seasonal fluctuations in partner-seeking behaviour. A Study in 2013 found that usage of online dating platforms spiked in the winter months, and even our lizard overlords at Meta show statistics that more people change their relationship status to coupled on the platform during the winter months. Relationship counsellor Kim Kromwijk-Lub points to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) as a possible reason we desperately seek companionship during winter, as the shorter, colder days wreak havoc on the circadian rhythm and the production of serotonin in some people. 

DTS, Daniel-Farò, Intimacy.

Michelle Couto, a Toronto psychotherapist, is a firm defender of cuffing season, stating that we may see cuffing season as our mating period. “There’s no [specific] human mating seasons [like other mammals,] whereas women—we’re fertile all year long. If there was a mating season, you could call it cuffing season—more people are lonely in the colder weather, and more people want to mate consistently.” This is a somewhat simple conjecture, but Lehmiller slightly backs up this statement with his findings, saying ”so while people do seem more interested in sex and love in the winter, it’s not necessarily the case that they’re more interested now than any other season. It seems that people are actually most likely to look for mates in the summer, which tells us that cuffing season occurs more than once annually. These summer and winter peaks in dating interest, however, may very well be driven by different factors, and there’s a fair amount of research to suggest that the winter cuffing season may have more to do with our biology. Some studies have found that testosterone levels fluctuate seasonally in men, peaking in the winter months.” There seem to be many factors driving us towards finding a mate to spend the cold, lonely winter months with, but until the academic evidence is there, I hold off on taking it too seriously. What we should be doing seriously, though, is looking at the possible implications and effects cuffing season may have not only on us but on the partners often left by the wayside. 

Often and I mean very often, the scope of the cuffing season relationship is unspoken. As a result, many cuffed couples delay difficult conversations around the nature of their relationship to avoid any conflict that may arise from it. Laura Pitcher wrote for i-D that cuffing season was cancelled, and I kind of agree. I have nothing against hookups, but still, I think we need to look at how we seemingly have determined people in a sexual and dating sense are inherently replaceable, even if this shift happened subconsciously. Gabes Torres, a psychotherapist and artist, thinks we are currently reexamining the culture of searching for temporary love. “Are we looking for love when unconsciously, we’re looking for someone to solely use (rather than have a connection with) in order to get through the colder season?” Gabes asks. She beautifully adds, “Am I also locking myself to the idea that I should be looking for a significant other during such a season? For as long as policing is infused with intimacy, then I don’t see how it can build mutual, accountable connections.”

DTS, Daniel-Farò, Intimacy.

I’d like to end with the fact that the term cuffing season isn’t the problem, but rather that, if we’re being honest, most people are terrible at having hard conversations. I’d also go as far to say that most people aren’t very good communicators at all, and the consequences of not clearly communicating your needs, desires and intentions in cuffing season relationships that are often ambiguous can be soul-crushing. You know, that experience when one person thinks the relationship is going to be a long-term thing, and the other is just waiting for the sun to come earlier in the mornings and the festival line-ups start getting released again? That kind of confusion caused by miscommunication is the crux of cuffing season. Pitcher really puts it beautifully, ”Terms like “cuffing season” or “ghosting” aren’t the problem, but rather a reflection of a dating culture that encourages us to view others as disposable, which is further emphasised by unlimited swiping on the apps. With this in mind, it’s less about abandoning specific words than it is about shifting our perspective on modern dating entirely.” So with cuffing season here and it seemingly going nowhere, remember to be kind, be cautious and, for the love of all that is holy: communicate.

Written by: Casey Delport

For more news, visit the Connect Everything Collective homepage www.ceconline.co.za

Vans South Africa release their film ‘Briberies’ featuring their South African skateboarding team

Apr 18, 2023 | News, Community

Vans South Africa is excited to release Briberies – the latest video from our South African Skateboarding team. 

Briberies focuses on three friends who grew up skateboarding together, who persevered through many obstacles to become some of the most talented and hardest working skateboarders in South Africa right now. Street skating in South Africa is not an easy task – rough spots, crime and life in general makes it challenging to get footage, let alone 13 minutes of it.

Devandre Galant, Briberies, Nslide by Grant and swfs360 by shiffman.
Ethan Cairns, Briberies, Bs Wallride by Grant.
Alex Williams, Briberies, Wallie and shuv crooks by Grant.

Briberies is about motivating each other to overcome these obstacles, whatever it takes to keep the spirits high when the struggles get overwhelming. It’s been an amazing journey for the whole team to witness these dudes grow into themselves and into their respective styles, on their skateboards and in life.

It took three years of relentlessly destroying every spot in Cape Town to get this video done. We proudly present to you the three sons of South African skateboarding – Ethan Cairns, Alex Williams and Devandre Galant.

Briberies is also available to watch now on VANS YouTube Channel. Follow @vansskate and @vans_za on Instagram to learn more about the Vans skate team.

Vans, “Off The Wall” Since ’66
WEBSITE 
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FACEBOOK
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Follow Vans on Spotify Here!

For more news, visit the Connect Everything Collective homepage www.ceconline.co.za

Nic Preen releases latest single ‘Jitterbug’ ahead of his anticipated solo EP ‘Scraps’

Apr 18, 2023 | New Release, Music

Nic Preen is a musician and songwriter who hails from Cape Town, South Africa. He was involuntarily thrust into following a dream of music from a young age, after making his father cry during a rendition of Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) at his mothers ‘Mamma Mia’ themed 40th birthday party. He’d be pushed into joining several bands and perform at local venues around Cape Town, most notably becoming the frontman of one of South Africa’s biggest Indie-Pop exports; Al Bairre. In 2018, he co-founded the band The World Of Birds, which quickly gained a following and became a staple of the Cape Town music scene and gave Preen an audience on the international stage, a band in which he still resides with more birds music set to be released in 2023.

After years of touring and recording in bands, Nic made the bold decision to move to London after receiving an endorsement from the UK Arts Council and signing with the record label, Platoon. In his time working between Cape Town and London, he has devoted some of his songwriting to this personal project. Inspired by his new surroundings, and in search of ideas for more music, he began writing and recording as much new material as possible, only to find he’d already had a collection of finished material in a forgotten library deep in his desktop. Tracks found have culminated in what is to be an upcoming EP titled ‘Scraps’. A collection of songs written over the past few years in mind for other projects but now finding a happy home within his solo music, an impatient preen itching to showcase his eclectic style and ability to blend various genres, from indie rock to electronic music. Furthermore after hearing Damon Albarn’s quote that ‘artists are sometimes too precious and there are many forgotten songs that would be hits’, the surfer-songwriter has made it his mission to double his discography in 2023. This current discography can be heard via ‘Preen’s Playlist’ on all streaming platforms.

‘Jitterbug’ is the first single from Scraps demonstrating Nic’s versatility as a songwriter and lyricist. It is a poignant tribute to the late George Michael. 

 

This song found its origin in a The World Of Birds writing session, with bandmates and producers Ben & Conor McCarthy. Nic being a huge fan of the lyrical masterpiece ‘Raphael’ by Beatenberg wanted to write a similar tribute song, where the lyrics were dedicated to another he admired, as is Rafael to both the tennis player and painter. Being a huge fan of the pop icon George Michael and devastated by his sudden passing on Christmas Day in 2016, ‘Jitterbug’ was born – a nostalgic and heartfelt song that captures the sense of loss felt by fans all over the world. Interwoven with references and adulation to his incredible career, the chorus can be applied to anyone dealing with loss and is a reminder that when someone is gone they are not forgotten. The song is possibly one of Preen’s biggest collaborative efforts to date, calling on friends and heroes for further collaboration, ultimately featuring Matthew Field and Ross Dorkin, of the band Beatenberg, making the original inspiration for the track come full circle.

‘Scraps’ is a very meaningful episode in Preen’s musical career and seems a perfect palate cleanser for what is to be a considerable turning point in the artist’s sonic journey. 

Stream Nic Preen’s ‘Jitterbug’ HERE