Explore the exchange story of designer Zinzi De Brouwer from Mozambique and artisan Beautiful Local Hands from Mauritius and find out how they created their look for The Commonwealth Fashion Exchange, 2018.
The Exchange: Mozambique x Mauritius
For The Commonwealth Fashion Exchange 2018, designer Zinzi De Brouwer exchanged with artisans Beautiful Local Hands to create a look that was inspired by architecture. The look was unveiled at Buckingham Palace on February 19, 2018, and later moved to the Australian High Commission, London, where it was open to the public in the run up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit, April 2018.
Mozambique: Designer Zinzi De Brouwer
Born in Maputo in 1987 with a Dutch background, Zinzi de Brouwer grew up surrounded by Mozambique’s unique landscape and culture. After completing a fashion design degree at Amsterdam’s Fashion Institute in 2010, Zinzi worked as a designer in Bali, Rome and latterly New York, where she interned for Proenza Schouler. A Masters degree in Fashion Strategy at the Institute of the Arts in Arnhem soon followed, before setting up her own multi-disciplinary design studio Stories of Near. Her ever-evolving design aesthetic draws much from her multi-cultural background, for example finding inspiration in traditional Mozambican cloth: the ‘capulana’. Her strong African roots have drawn her back to Mozambique, encouraging an ambition to enable empowerment to people, especially women, through craftsmanship, heritage and design by building bridges between cultures through shared ethical values.
Mauritius: Artisans Beautiful Local Hands
Beautiful Local Hands owes its beginnings to the charitable arm of Beachcomber Hotels, the FONDATION ESPOIR DÉVELOPPEMENT (FED). Thanks to this foundation’s principled approach to helping educate, train and mentor businesses local to its properties, a cooperative of 55 artisans came together in Mauritius to form Beautiful Local Hands.
Artisan from Beautiful Local HandsCommonwealth Fashion Council
Experts in pottery, textiles, basketry and beadwork, the craft workers have benefitted from the careful structure of the business, allowing homeworkers who may struggle with conventional enterprise to work from home at their own pace. Those disadvantaged members of Mauritian society, including older women and disabled people are given new skills, escaping their isolation by meeting other craft workers and gaining confidence through their ability to earn an income. The promotion of traditional Mauritian handicraft techniques, using indigenous plants and recycled materials, maintains biodiversity and preserves the environment.
The story behind the look
Inspired by Maputo’s best-loved architect, Pancho Guedes, who shaped much of the city’s post-modernist buildings, Zinzi has created a dress that represents the juxtaposition of past and present in the urban landscape of the city.
Zinzi De Brouwer's sketch by Zinzi De BrouwerCommonwealth Fashion Council
Illustration of the dress
The fabric used to create Zinzi De Brouwer's dress by Zinzi De BrouwerCommonwealth Fashion Council
Fabric inspiration
As Zinzi De Brouwer's look is inspired by architecture, the fabric chosen nods towards the Maasai tradition for checks and the grid-like structure of the city.
Zinzi De Brouwer's look for The Commonwealth Fashion Exchange Zinzi De Brouwer's look for The Commonwealth Fashion ExchangeCommonwealth Fashion Council
The ruffles and gathers symbolise the lush vegetation and the warm sunshine dappled through palm leaves.
Necklace and bracelet created by artisans from Beautiful Local Hands to accompany Zinzi De Brouwer's lookCommonwealth Fashion Council
Jewellery made from locally sourced materials
Beautiful Local Hands’ artisans, James Warren (aka Pop) and Dany Couyava, created a necklace and bangles to accessorise the look, made from locally sourced polished coconut sewn onto beige canvas.
Zinzi De Brouwer's look for The Commonwealth Fashion Exchange Zinzi De Brouwer's look for The Commonwealth Fashion ExchangeCommonwealth Fashion Council
Final look on display at Buckingham Palace, 19 February 2018
Zinzi De Brouwer's look at Australian High Commission, London by Zinzi De BrouwerCommonwealth Fashion Council
Final look on display at the Australian High Commission, London, 22 February 2018
Behind the Scenes of The Commonwealth Fashion Exchange 2018Commonwealth Fashion Council
This content has been specifically curated for the Google Arts & Culture platform on behalf of the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange exhibition that launched on the 19th of February at Buckingham Palace in partnership with Swarovski, The Woolmark Company and MATCHESFASHION.COM.
The project, created and managed by Eco-Age, with the support of The Commonwealth Fashion Council and The British Fashion Council.
More information about the images is available by clicking on them.
Read more about the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange at http://eco-age.com/commonwealth-fashion-exchange/
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