Isishweshwe Fabric Display

Today I visited a fabric shop. I was looking for fabric I could use for the dress I want to get for a wedding. I came across these beautiful Isishweshwe fabric, with intricate patterns and calm colours. Then I thought to myself it would be a good idea to have all these shades of colours and patterns for my end of year display, not necessarily on my jewellery but maybe on a piece of artwork like Katanu Kay Sanna

Khosi Nkosi

"Khosi Nkosi is a fashion brand established in 2008 by a designer named Nobukhosi Nkosi. The brand name is derived from the Zulu word for royalty and features chic ruffled dresses in traditional African print. The garments are a perfect fusion of traditional and modern taste. She plays around with African prints creating garments that incredible fits on the wearer. Nkosi's collection is perfect for every occasion like wedding, birthdays and office parties, see figure 1"(Hume. n.d). 

Figure 1- Nkosi, N. Stretch Shweshwe. [ONLINE]

"The Khosi Nkosi garments are inspired by what the brand essence for: Strong. Modern, Worldly, Nubile woman that loves and respects herself and pays attention to detail"(Nkosi. n.d).

I think her aim is to make garments that are appropriate for every woman with different fashion taste.

I have noticed a style that she uses in most of her garments which is the different layers she create in a dress giving different dimensions, symmetrical and asymmetrical look, see figure 1 &2. I have been working with different layers and folding in my jewellery inspiration drawn from Nkosi's garments.

Figure 2- Nkosi, N. Thulisa Dress. [ONLINE]

Platinum Prototype in silver

Figure 2- Nkabinde, M.,(2019).  Silver.

Figure 1- Nkabinde, M., (2019). Fabric. 

Figure 1 is an example of the fabric motif I used called CDs, from there I manipulated the motif in a simplest way that will have nice pattern to work with see figure 2&3.

        

          Figure 3- Nkabinde, M., (2019). Silver.

                      

                             Figure 4- Nkabinde, M., (2019). Silver.

Once the pattern is punched out then the metal folding part is done see figure 4&5, making sure you anneal in between to get nice curves.

Figure 5- Nkabinde, M., (2019). Silver.