MaXhosa: A Masterclass in textile and design

Viwe Pukwana
Feb 18, 2019
1 min read

I had the pleasure of visiting the MaXhosa studio in Johannesburg and meeting the team, including Ntsika Tyatya. In the video below, Ntsika explains the design and knitting process of MaXhosa garment, including how sustainable practices have been included in production.

Witnessing how the vision is carefully curated and brought to life has demonstrated how MaXhosa has solidified it's indelible place in luxury fashion.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/920291_b8e34b04ec9544ee876b6c01fa952f99/720p/mp4/file.mp4

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/920291_7554c5e5daef4cfe8ed329fd612ff731/720p/mp4/file.mp4

MaXhosa uses 100% of it's sourced material in production, making it one of the most sustainable clothing brands in the world. In the 2nd video, Ntsika shows me how residual fabric is recycled.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/920291_dd0f972fe4b348eb8a8639bc3119386b/720p/mp4/file.mp4

MaXhosa by Laduma is a pioneer in contemporary African design and innovation. From conceptualization to recycling process, MaXhosa is setting the standard for textile innovation in South Africa.

MaXhosa's designs are inspired by patterns on Xhosa bead work used for jewellery and garnishing safety pins which are used for enclosing Traditional Xhosa umbhaco around the body. 100% of MaXhosa fabric is sourced from the Eastern Cape, Laduma Ngxoxolo's home province.

The Eastern Cape has the largest supply of wool and mohair in the country, and the largest supply of mohair in the world. Wool and mohair are the essential fabrics used in the production of MaXhosa garments.

The brand has extended it's range to interior design, including rugs and cushions in it's product line. All MaXhosa yarns are sourced according to the house's specification and manufactured in the Eastern Cape.