What better way to celebrate Women’s Month, than through the joy of creativity and design. Aranda Textile Mills has had the honour of working with a number of Southern Africa’s leading female designers, artists and creatives, the result of which has been, the launch of beautiful new blankets and throws which combine our unique African heritage with creative talent.
Under the My Africa brand, Aranda joined forces with the talented pattern designer Glorinah Khutso Mabaso of Renaissance Design. This collaboration culminated in the launch of the first ever My Africa Designer Collection throw inspired by the Himba people of Namibia. Glorinah has a passion for re-awakening the ancient cultural knowledge of the African continent. Using design as her language, she seeks to preserve African history through modern pattern design. The My Africa Himba throw celebrates this semi-nomadic tribe who have made the desert their home.
Aranda has also been fortunate to work with Sophie Msoziswa Mahlangu, who is a key custodian of Ndebele heritage. She is a master beadwork maker and painter, celebrating the traditional Ndebele aesthetic in both traditional and contemporary products. Sophie was recently awarded the Order of Ikhamanga by President Cyril Ramaphosa, which recognises those who have excelled in the arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sports. Aranda was honoured to work with her to translate one of her original paintings into a blanket called UnoSinky. This unique blanket is the perfect blend of tradition with a modern touch. Whether worn or used in the home as a throw, this design is truly a celebration of Sophie’s creativity and her passion for wanting to pass her knowledge on to the next generation.
Sophie UnoSinky Mahlangu in the centre
Aranda is the proud manufacturer of the iconic Basotho Heritage Blankets. In 2022, the first Young Basotho Designers Collection was launched. This biannual collection, aims to create the next generation of Basotho blankets designed by Basotho creatives. Through the blanket, they can tell their own stories and keep their time-honoured blanket-wearing tradition alive for generations to come. The inaugural collection featured two designs by Alice Bereng, a Lesotho-born beauty and fashion entrepreneur, who now resides in the USA. She designed both the Diaspora Diamond and the Diaspora Maize blankets which celebrate the spread of Basotho culture beyond the borders of Lesotho. The Young Basotho Designers Collection Class of 2024, which was launched in June, features two female creatives. Matabe Lonia Ts’auli, who is currently pursuing a degree in fashion and retailing, designed the Ngoale blanket, inspired by the Basotho female initiation ritual. Malehloka Hlalele, popularly known as Maleh, is an Afro Pop artist and singer and her blanket Kobo ea Poloko (Blanket of Salvation) was inspired by her grandmother, whose unwavering faith was essential to her role as the matriarch of her family.
Model Bonolo Mabena
The Basotho, as well as the AmaNdebele nations, are two of the largest blanket-wearing cultures in Southern Africa. In 2019, King Makhosonke II Mabhena of the Ndebele Kingdom, married Queen Sekhothali Mabhena, who was born a princess of Lesotho. Aranda was privileged to work with Their Majesties, to create the Ndlovukazi blanket, in honour of Her Majesty, Queen Sekhothali Mabhena and in celebration of the uniting of these great blanket-wearing cultures. The design uses the classic Ndebele Umbhalo stripes as the base of the blanket and incorporates well-known Basotho symbols.
This Women’s Month, join us in celebrating the creativity of all these great women, as well as those Aranda will continue to work with in the future. There is a wealth of talent across Africa and a vibrancy of design, colour and strength, that makes the women of this continent worthy of admiration and praise.
Contact: My Africa.
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