South African designers have been showing off their best with new collections, runway shows and fashion weeks.
And with every year, fashion continues to evolve, getting more creative in the country and the continent.
One of the fashion designers who has been excelling this year is Keneilwe Mathoe, the co-founder and creative director of Neimil, a lifestyle brand that celebrates Afro-modern aesthetics.
Keneilwe is a talented designer who has won several awards for her work in interior design, fashion, and art.
She has also collaborated with global brands like H&M Home and showcased her collections at prestigious events like Design Indaba and Africa Fashion Week.
Keneilwe started her journey as a designer in 2018, when she teamed up with photographer Lubabalo Mxalisa to create Neimil, a brand that aims to express the beauty and diversity of African culture through contemporary design.
Neimil offers a range of products, from clothing and accessories to furniture and décor, that are inspired by nature, heritage, and innovation. Keneilwe's designs have been described as bold, colorful, and elegant.
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Keneilwe's latest collection, MeadowBloom, is a stunning example of her creativity. The collection features fashion and homeware items that are adorned with floral motifs, geometric patterns, and vibrant hues.
The collection is a celebration of spring, renewal, and joy, as well as a tribute to Keneilwe's grandmother, who taught her how to sew and embroider. MeadowBloom is a fusion of tradition and modernity, of nostalgia and freshness, of art and functionality.
Born KwaNdebele, Mpumalanga but raised in Johannesburg where she is currently based, this 31-year-old has been in the fashion industry for around a decade now.
Keneliwe says the inspiration behind MeadowBloom is, “a celebration of life; it’s a project that blossomed in a time of distress from the challenges of life. It’s a reminder to myself and those around me that seasons change and with that comes an alignment of new ideas.”
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Keneliwe worked with Stella Artois on previous projects and that’s how this partnership came about.
“Stella Artois has been very supportive with any ideas I’ve come up with and this is the third exhibition they have supported with Neimil. We have done ‘100% Design JHB’, ‘The Hut’ and now ‘MeadowBloom’.”
"The idea behind these launches or fellowships is to firstly connect with friends of the brand and have them experience Neimil outside of the online setting. We always want to shed light on our processes, our stories and what truly inspires everything we do. The aim was to connect on a more personal level with those that support us and share a meal paired with a Stella at the end of it all."
Even though fashion design might be a burning passion for her, it can still present some challenges from time to time.
“The most challenging thing of this process was having to balance everything that was happening in my life outside of work, not having enough time to process everything. Time was felt like it was moving so fast.”
The conceptualizing stage is always her favourite part of the process, “because I get to play with different fabrics, play with textures, volume, silhouettes. It’s the best part to try out everything you ever imagined.
“All our collections have a narrative attached to them, whether it be in homeware or fashion. Each collection has a different look and feel because of the narrative behind it.”
Her creative process is an emotive one and entails her being in the right state of mind. “I need to be rested and refreshed, then the creative process begins and for me sometimes I find the fabric first that inspires the garment or an object and sometimes it all starts with a sketch."
Looking towards the future she has her heart set on, “celebrating the African narrative on a broader scale with more inspired pieces”.
