A while ago, Middle Eastern patterned scarves, also known as desert or Palestine scarves, entered the fashion circuit as a hot item for both men and women.
These are based on keffiyehs, the black and white Arab headdress for men which are a cultural representation as well as protection from dust and sand.
A while ago, Middle Eastern patterned scarves, also known as desert or Palestine scarves, entered the fashion circuit as a hot item for both men and women.
These are based on keffiyehs, the black and white Arab headdress for men which are a cultural representation as well as protection from dust and sand.
The keffiyeh has become a controversial symbol of Palestinian nationalism associated with terrorists or terrorism, yet the scarf has flooded international stores and are now even sold by street vendors.
Donned by many young people, they are usually worn around the neck as a fashion accessory. Doubting that the youth are aware of the connotations that the scarves hold, I approached a Grahamstown local, Audrey Mashao who was wearing a black striped Palestine scarf finished with tonal fringe.
Unaware of the anti-western message it represents, she said, "I only bought it because it’s in fashion". These scarves come in a range of different colours and can be matched with any outfit.
South Africa’s cultural heritage is being represented on international runways in the form of isishweshwe, a traditional South African cotton print.
Also known as German print, the cotton comes in many clours and patterns, including images incorporating Nelson Mandela’s iconic countenance.
The presence of the traditionally indigo dyed cloth in South Africa is long and complex and has been traced back to early Arab and Phonecian trade.
First brought to South Africa by settlers in the 1800s, shweshwe was soon adopted by the indigenous Xhosa people as part of their traditional dress.
Today the typical indigo blue and brown fabric comes in a myriad colours and has been made up into everything from skirts to flared pants.
This trend was marked by the innovative fashion designers of the labels Sun God’ess and Stoned Cherrie in 2003. Since then they, and others, have exhibited their designs incorprating shweshwe in creative ways worldwide.
"It gets used all over the world and has been going on for many generations," said the manager of Jacksons, Ursela Done. Jackson’s is a fabric shop on Bathurst Street that sells Da Gama Textiles, known as the original manufacturer of the original shweshwe.
"Da Gama got the license to cut the fabric in the 1980s, before that time it used to be imported from London. The fabric comes in a different range of colours that represents different cultures.
Our traditional colour for our area are the browns and blues," said Done. "Isishweshwe can be used with any fabric, it does not need much ironing and is easy to maintain."
Speaking to a local fashion designer, Andiswa Mtyingizane carrying a bag decorated with an African print, she said that it has become popular to incorporate African designs to create unique everyday wear.
“The Xhosa style of dressing has been popular for a while where you see Xhosa inspired clothing from clothing designers such as Sun God’ess and even in Chinese stores.”
Thembeka Koma likes to wear a brown skirt and apron made from shweshwe. "As a married woman, I have to dress traditionally. I see white people who are influenced in dressing like us.
They probably think it’s beautiful and take what they like from our tradition and make their own fashion statements."
Abongile Madabane is a local jewellery designer whose designs reflect an eclectic mixture of cultures. “I call it my melting pot of cultures," she said.
Madabane said that she is inspired by African, European and Western cultures when it comes to designing her jewellery. A local beader, Moshiwe Matongosi sells her handmade Xhosa necklaces opposite Clicks on High Street.
The pricing of the beads ranges between R10 and R170. "The majority of my clients are white people and tourists. I also get students that are interested in them."
She adds that "white people probably purchase the beads because they like what they see, unlike most black people who purchase them for attending special events like weddings.
