Sindiso Khumalo x & Other Stories

& Other Stories are collaborating with Sindiso Khumalo, the South African brand known for its colour and prints, sustainable textiles and strong emphasis on African history.

“Clothing can be a form of medicine. It can evoke emotions and make you feel strong, alive and empowered. That’s what I want to bring to my designs, making women feel empowered, exceptional and unique. I love the idea of clothing embodying an element of good fortune when you buy them—be it in the print or the colour,” says Sindiso Khumalo.

Can you tell us more about what inspired you for the collection?
“The collection’s silhouettes were inspired by vintage portraits from the 1800s of women from Africa and the African diaspora. They hug the female shape but are also comfortable and functional. Because I studied architecture as my first degree, for me, function is essential when it comes to clothing. The function of the fabric is as important as the silhouette, prints and colours.”

What materials did you use?
“The collection is made with materials sourced in a more sustainable way, such as organic cotton, recycled cotton and linen. It’s all about being thoughtful, considerate and creating clothing with intent. I want to make clothes that move beyond seasons and trends, which people feel they can hang onto for the rest of their lives—and sustainability needs to be beautiful, it needs to be desirable.”

Which are your favourite pieces in your collection?
“My favourite pieces are the white sleeveless dress with collar and the pepper red smock with white collar—that one in particular reminds me of my Grandmother’s church uniform. Both are quite different but express colour in very different ways.”

Founded in 2015, the brand Sindiso Khumalo is unapologetically bold, bright and feminine. Each collection highlights the designer’s South African heritage and history with sustainability, craft and empowerment at the label’s heart. Contemporary, beyond trends and seasons, and clothing with intent are all key signatures.

The eponymous label is based in Cape Town. Khumalo designs all the textiles in her collections based on her drawings, watercolours and abstract cutouts. Over the years, she has developed a uniquely colourful visual language that draws upon her Zulu and Ndebele heritage and the lands of Kwazulu Natal, where she’s from.

The Sindiso Khumalo co-lab collection will launch in selected & Other Stories stores and on stories.com on April 13, 2023.