Green Fashion Design from Liberia

I have fallen in love...

With a green fashion line from Liberia. Run by two sisters, Chara Itoka Cooper and Phyllis Itoka, and named after a lake in Liberia, the Piso Collection harnesses the abundance of local cotton, they have launched a line of women's, men's and little girls' dresses, with accessories to boot.

Heavens, I love these dresses... and here are the girls' dresses and the bags!

Honestly, I just love all of it.  I'll also go out on a limb and say I see a kindred spirit in Chara, who I have learned grew up in the Boston area! Here's a pic of chic Chara and her husband, from here. So inspiring. 

Piso has been developed as a company that aspires to be "textiles for social and economic change", by hiring works at higher wages and with job security. The line is also sustainable. Can't wait to see what's next.

Christmas Spirit

It's that time of year and so I'm loving the festive feeling in this Tennessee cabin from Country Living

But my favourite room? The bedroom - the mix of colour and texture (and stripes, of course!)... and the perfect cherry on top - a Skinny Malinx cushion.

South Africa Art & Design: Heating Up the Internet

Ah yes, two great blogs highlighted some awesome South African art and design this week.

First Habitually Chic, showing a feature from a recent Elle Decor. I loved this house when I saw it - I'm so not rock 'n roll and it would be so much fun to live here for a weekend to enjoy feeling like I was.

Its not immediately obvious (which I think makes it nice) but there are touches of South Africa here - the Pieter Hugo photo in the hallway, the porcupine lampshades in the kitchen, the traditional wooden furniture in the living room and I think that fabric on the chair in the last pic is a South African design, too. Love it. Everywhere but not obvious. Liveable.

Then, Erin Gates at Elements of Style, had me laughing at her excitement at discovering Londolozi. I guess it's a place I taken for granted as being awesome - although it nice to be reminded how great it is by a newby (although, no I haven't been, and I'd give my left arm to go). I could've sworn I'd shown more pics of it before, but I guess not! Enjoy:

Sart in South Africa

 I was so excited last Thursday when I went to the Sartorialist's blog and saw this:

Sart was in South Africa for the Cape Town leg of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week! The shot above was taken in my neck of the woods, Johannesburg. I've picked some of my favourite of his pics, which were taken all over - and what I like most about them is that he got shots of people we'd see every day, just looking fine, and others who seem to do a bit more work to look good, but we appreciate none the less.

That's right. A good looking nation!

FEED

I was recently in  Godiva (obviously) getting one of their delicious chocolate shakes (perfection in a cup, you have to try them) and noticed these beautiful bags.

Handcrafted by women in Liberia, the purchase of a bag provides 10 school meals for children, which I think is one of the easiest and most effective ways to feed children, keep them in school and help them get a good footing in life. You can read more, and purchase a bag, here.

West Elm Week!

I realize that it's become West Elm week on South of the Sahara, but I had to share! I popped over to a store yesterday to see things in person, and although not all the South African products had arrived, there were a few to check out.

The Ceramic Matters Thorn Vase is lovely in person - there is a change from matte to gloss glaze and its delightful.

The John Vogel furniture looked really great... I think the two little girls who were reclining on the Mantis Lounger while their mother shopped looked completely comfy.

And something that didn't even catch my eye online impressed me: the Loren Kaplan dinnerware was just super. A good weight in your hand, beautiful but looked completely durable.

My kudu lamp was not in stock yet, but it just gives me another chance to go back and look around!

The List

I have a new wish list, thanks to West Elm's new South African goodies!

The Ceramic Matters aloe candle holder

the striped pillow...

and my absolute favourite... the table kudu lamp. On sale!!

PS: I'm going to do it and put it out there, like a nit-picky old woman, but West Elm has made one faux pas along the way - they are touting all these products on a page labelled "Discovered in South Africa" but they have Masai chokers and kuba cloth upholstered chairs. Although beautiful, neither of these are South African. Also the sculptural canisters are more likely from Malawi or Zimbabwe. Also not South African. Just had to say it.

So on that note, although not South African, I have wanted a traditional African wooden bench in my home since I first saw one in my great aunt's home. She was an adventurer and had lived in Malawi and Zimbabwe, as well as South Africa, and her home was filled with wonderful furniture and art from those countries, happily living alongside her Western things.

West Elm Heads South

After their introduction of Clinton Friedman a few months ago, West Elm is going South African.... lots of furniture, fabric, pottery and other deliciousness. Well done, West Elm!

Here's a snippet from furniture designer, John Vogel, who designs riempie chairs (riempie is when strings of leather are woven tightly to form the seats of the chairs. Can't get more South African than that!)



My favourite? The wishbone-inspired riempie chair. To die for in that red!

Graceland

One of the best albums of all time. Can't wait to see this, should be interesting (hopefully one of the small artsy cinemas near us will play it!)

Mid-Coast Maine Cottage

Dear Fiona Hooper

I saw your lovely Maine cottage on remodelista, and I was wondering if I could come visit. I see that you have connections to South Africa, too, so I know we'd get on famously. If we both love South Africa and mid-coast Maine, we must be kindred spirits.

Looking forward to it!
Kirstey

You can rent this beautiful property. More info here. (I would still like to know how the owner has a South African connection! If you find out, let me know!)

Koto Bolofo at Anthropologie

Here's another fantastic South African newsy, artsy awesomeness. Remember the lovely photography of Koto Bolofo?

And this fun video of him working for Vogue?

And his glamorous book on Hermes?



Well, now he has branched out into fashion and is selling an exquisite range at Anthroplogie. I first read about it in their gorgeous new magazine and I can't wait to see it in person (I think I need that skirt).







He also has a new book at Anthropologie, which looks just as mesmerising.





If you'd like to get all the details, check out the article.