By Wanique Block
Raised between Bournemouth and Southhampton in the UK, 21-year-old Nature Conservation graduate and fashion designer Nonhlanhla Blessing Ndlovu is using her brand Crochet Couture ZA to redefine conversations around the slow fashion movement in South Africa.
Nonhlanhla, who is a self taught crocheter started crocheting as a hobby in the year 2020, during the covid-19 pandemic as a coping mechanism for the anxiety she was struggling with.
I began crocheting in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic began. Initially it began as an anxiety coping mechanism as I was struggling with my anxiety. One article online recommended starting a hobby that would distract you from the focal point of your anxiety triggers to ease on the panic attacks. I then googled “How to Crochet” on YouTube and then Crochet Couture ZA was born.
As a Nature Conservation graduate, Nonhlanhla prides herself in protecting the environment for future generations to come. It is for this reason that Crochet Couture ZA is deeply embedded in the threads of sustainability.
Sustainability is very important to me as a conservationist I strongly believe in providing for the current generations needs now without compromising the needs of the future generations to come, with this ensuring a balance between caring for the environment and economic growth. It also means contributing the lowest to any negative impact that may be posed to the environment.
Inspired by the latest trends in fashion Crochet Couture ZA is a homemade fashion brand that consists of pieces with an array of styles, textures and colours.
Each piece is specifically crocheted with yarn.
Overall yarn works best with our crochet projects but we will be using more wool for our knit projects.
Crochet Couture’s colourful hues and trendy designs, together with their innovative and sustainable uses of fabrics has caught the attention of celebrities like Uncle Waffles and Thabsie.
For Coachella this past weekend, International DJ Uncle Waffles was spotted in a Crochet Couture ZA Merino-Blend scribble two-piece set.
In conversation with Kaya 959, Nonhlanhla shares how she never thought her brand would gain such traction let alone obtain support from the likes of Uncle Waffles.
It feels so surreal considering I did not think Crochet Couture would grow and even reach such a status. For me, it lets me know that I am working in the right direction and that keeping consistency with crocheting will eventually pay off. As a brand, it makes me proud to know that South African celebrities are interested in our crochet / knit pieces and it pushes us as a group to think of more ways to grow and reach a larger audience.
When asked what she hopes people take away from Crochet Couture ZA, Nonhlanhla notes that she hopes people appreciate the time that goes into each garment. She also reiterates the importance of supporting small local brands.
I hope they appreciate the hours and time that goes into the pieces as each piece is handmade. I hope people recognise the difference between slow fashion brands and their quality items as opposed to fast fashion brands that often exploit their workers and are often made in poor working conditions. Lastly I hope people continue to support local small brands as well as learn about the positive impacts of slow fashion and the sustainability behind the items they purchase – as this benefits the environment as well.
Despite being a newcomer to the fashion industry, it is clear that Nonhlanhla Ndlovu is here to stay!
Nonhlanhla Ndlovu is devotedly using her craft to fuel artistic expression and in turn redefining the status quo when it comes to sustainability and conservation in fashion.
All pictures have been supplied by Nonhlanhla Ndlovu***
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