If there are good luck charms and energy-healing crystals, why can’t a dress promise good fortune? Or a swimsuit that instantly summons positive vibes? Well, that’s exactly what the latest & Other Stories collaboration with Cape Town-based designer Sindiso Khumalo set out to accomplish.
“Some people wear crystals around their necks or hang rosaries in their car,” Khumalo tells Vogue. “Zulu homes have Nguni cows at the entrance of their homes. So I was thinking, how do I bring all of those vignettes of good luck together into a garment.”
Photo: & Other Stories
The mission was accomplished with a fortuitous collection of ready-to-wear, swimsuits, and accessories. On the roster, you’ll find abstract cowrie printed one-pieces and golden cowrie necklaces. Those mollusk shells are a symbol of good luck and protection in Sub-Saharan Africa. Dresses trimmed in 3D embroidered florals reminiscent of the blooms on Hindu garlands are also a major part of the limited-edition line. “In Durban, they have a big Indian community there,” Khumalo explains. “I wanted to bring the cross-cultural reference that you see in South Africa to life through this collection.” Simply put, the collaboration is a sartorial melting pot of all good things. In addition to the symbolic motifs, the joyous shades of marigold and vibrant orange tones are no accident. “I believe in color therapy,” says Khumalo. “Wearing certain colors makes you feel a certain way and inspires you to show up confidently in the world.”
More importantly—this collection was created with sustainability in mind; the fastenings on the handbag are made out of recycled brass and the handbags themselves are crafted from up-cycled paper. “I really think there is no reason that we should not have clothes lasting for generations to come, given the technology that we have at our fingertips,” Khumalo says. “During the creation process, we asked ourselves, ‘How do you make a recycled paper bag that’s super sturdy and going to last?’ That was a really big part of the process for me. I wanted to make things that were not here today and gone tomorrow. If I can find my designs in a vintage shop 70 years from now, I will feel like I’ve done my job.”
The entire collection will be available to shop on April 13 at 1:00 p.m. EST, but Vogue readers can start shopping two hours early at 11:00 a.m. EST. Scroll down to find a good luck-inducing staple to add to your closet.
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