• photography Volha Hapanenka
    fashion Tandekile Mkizete

    all clothing Celeste Lee Arendse

    An Interview with Celeste Lee Arendse: The Interworkings of Her Craft

    Written by Janae McIntosh

    Janae: What inspired you to start Selfi?
    Celeste: Growing up, my sister and I used to draw on every surface we could find. Both my parents were in the fashion industry, so industry talk was always an essential part of the conversation at dinner. Along with that, I was really interested in art and started drawing from a young age, as well as customising existing old clothes. I think it definitely started early, and many of those moments led me to become a designer today.

    J: What goals did you have in creating your first collection?
    C: I saw a niche of creative women in industry who were not wearing office wear to work but attire that can blend from day to dinner, or for lack of a better word, creating more transient clothes. I was interested in the modern career women who have a love for travel, great food, and who appreciate art and design in Cape Town at the time.

    J: When it comes to fabrics, what are the ones that you really enjoy using? And why?
    C: With each collection, we strive to incorporate fabrics that are kinder to the environment. The fabrics we like to use are cotton twill, ramie linen, rayon linen, hemp, and sometimes silk. We examine the amount of water used in the production of our fabrics, considering whether it contributes to microfibre pollution or greenhouse gas emissions, and how long it will take to decompose after purchase. All these factors have led us to select the most eco-friendly plant-based fibers carefully.

    J: What role does sustainability play in your brand?
    C: The fashion industry produces a lot of waste season after season. Disposing of mock trials, samples, and fabrics that are no longer needed by design houses. With the dumping of these waste textiles, toxic chemicals are released into the environment and break down into the soil when they are buried. Every season, we donate all our mock trials and samples to St Anne's home for abused women and children in Woodstock, Cape Town, and Emmanuel Children's Day Care Centre in Atlantis. Here, the textiles we donate get repurposed and used for skill development through craft and sewing.

    J: How do you approach functionality and creativity with your collections?
    C: It's important to me to create clothes that are authentic but not intimidating or uncomfortable to wear. Clothes that are both durable and body-shaping are essential. We often redesign silhouettes season after season that fit well, and we will make slight changes in collar or pocket details

    J: Could you tell me more about how you incorporate African culture and identity into your work?
    C: Self-identity and culture are all about identity. In previous collections, we have drawn inspiration from indigenous tribes, such as the San people of South Africa, and explored the herbs and rituals they used for healing purposes. Weed colours and textures from these elements have been incorporated into our collections and lookbooks. We have also incorporated rock art female body silhouettes into knitwear pieces we have designed to celebrate the San people's body and the curvaceous nature of the South African female form. We have also had a dress called the Ostrich Egg dress, which was quilted to resemble an ostrich egg used by the San People for drinking.

    J: What kind of woman or person do you have in mind when you design pieces for Selfi? 
    C: We design with the modern global woman who loves to travel, great food, and who appreciates art and design. She is self-aware, conscious, and is rooted in exploring herself, always striving to be the best version of herself.

    J: Can you shed some light on your connection between your brand and the charities you work with?
    C: Every season, we donate all our mock trials and samples to St Anne's home for abused women and children in Woodstock, Cape Town, and Emmanuel Children's Day Care Centre in Atlantis. Here, the textiles we donate get repurposed and used for skill development through craft and sewing.

    J: What makes Selfi stand out in the South African fashion landscape?
    C: It's always been important to me to create a band with a purpose rooted in self-empowerment. Clothes with a mission that can raise the vibration of my environment, may it be through the people who make the clothes, to the women who wear them, or how it affects the earth. It's all one chain; everything is connected. With this mindset, that is what makes us different.

    J: What is next for Selfi?
    C: I wish to do more collaborations with like-minded brands. Creating authentic experiences around fashion based on connection and high vibration experiences locally and internationally.

    photography Volha Hapanenka
    fashion Tandekile Mkize
    makeup Toni Greenberg
    model Candice Brink
    all clothing Celeste Lee Arendse

  • Evolving Times – Dr. Denim Autumn/Winter 2025

    Written by Fashion Tales

    Denim has always been more than fabric. It’s memory stitched into cotton, the sound of youth in motion, the feeling of belonging to a generation yet entirely your own. Few garments carry such a quiet universality, and yet such potential for reinvention.

    With their Autumn/Winter 2025 collection, Dr. Denim leans into this paradox of timelessness and evolution. The brand, rooted in Gothenburg’s mix of raw industry and creative independence, presents a season that feels familiar yet subtly restless, always in search of the next shape, the next shade, the next story.

    Classic silhouettes reappear, but never unchanged. The Dash jean remains a loyal companion, while newer fits like Omar and Donna embrace wide, relaxed volumes. Washes, too, tell their own tale: a pared-back rinse wash designed with low environmental impact sits alongside the audacious Stream Riot, a spectrum of colour that feels almost like denim in conversation with light.

    For women, the introduction of Ary, with its bold, straight cut and Nanci, a modern barrel fit, add dimension to the already beloved Echo. The newcomer Rhue, with its soft flare, seems to nod to the past while insisting on the present. Together, they create a vocabulary of shapes that speak to individuality without losing the Dr. Denim DNA.

    But denim is only part of the narrative. Jersey takes on a new subtlety this season, with hoodies and crewnecks marked by a discreet embroidered “Dr. Denim Scribble” a gesture that feels almost like handwriting, intimate and understated. Knitwear, meanwhile, becomes a laboratory for texture, experimenting with yarn and technique to create pieces that carry both ease and expression.
    www.drdenim.com

  • photography Jack Huang 

    FLOSO: Designing a Future Rooted in the Past

    Written by Ulrika Lindqvist

    Founded by Ariel Zixin, FLOSO is a studio built on the belief that heritage and sustainability can coexist,  not as opposites, but as allies. With a deep reverence for historic fabrics like Loden wool and Tea silk, Zixin creates garments that marry timeless design with contemporary function. In this interview, the designer shares the philosophy behind FLOSO, the textures that inspire her, and the quiet power of clothes made to last.

    Ulrika Lindqvist: How long have you been designing, and what inspired you?

    Ariel Zixin: I’ve been designing for over ten years. It began with a visceral draw to heritage fabrics, materials with stories woven into them. Loden wool and Tea silk, in particular, captivated me with their history and durability. I wanted to resurrect that spirit instead of simply recycling trends.

    UL:  What drove you to found FLOSO?

    AZ: I wanted to build a space that went beyond fashion. FLOSO is about reviving heritage textiles with honesty and intention. It means creating pieces that respect the past while serving the present.

    UL:  How do you choose which materials to work with?

    AZ: Material selection is everything. We look first for durability, natural beauty, and environmental integrity. Loden wool, for example, is wind resistant, water repellent, and breathable. Tea silk has a structured drape and luminous sheen, thanks to plant-based dyeing and river mud finishing. These fabrics bring rich texture and timeless performance, making them our foundation.

    UL: Can you walk us through a typical workday for you?

    AZ: My day starts with a morning workout. It clears my mind and energizes my body, often sparking new ideas. At the studio in Birkastan, I explore fabrics and samples, letting texture guide the creative process. I connect with our production team via Zoom to confirm details. When clients visit, I walk them through fittings, offer styling advice, and finalize custom pieces with the right fabric and design.

    UL:  What is your favorite piece from the current collection?

    AZ: I’m especially fond of the Loden Wool overcoat from our Autumn/Winter collection. It has a clean, strong silhouette and all the qualities I value, including protection from the elements, breathability, and understated elegance. It perfectly embodies FLOSO’s blend of function, refinement, and longevity.

    UL:  What would you say are the 3 core values of FLOSO?

    AZ: 

    Heritage and Craftsmanship: Reviving time-honored fabrics and traditional techniques.

    Sustainability and slow fashion: Made-to-order pieces with chemical-free materials and minimal waste.

    Timeless Design: Classic silhouettes with subtle personalizations that outlast trends.

    UL:  How would you describe the FLOSO customer?

    AZ: Our customer appreciates quiet luxury as an alternative to fast fashion. They look for pieces with fabric that feels alive, such as the dense warmth of Loden or the soft luster of Tea silk, cut with precision and made transparently. They value garments that grow more beautiful over time rather than faster.

    UL: Tell us a memorable moment from your journey with FLOSO.

    AZ: One of the most memorable moments was the launch event at our Birkastan showroom. A longtime customer told me, “I don’t just wear your clothes. I live in them.” Hearing that someone feels at home in a piece I helped create was incredibly rewarding. It reminded me why care and heritage matter in design.

    UL: What are your plans for the future of FLOSO?

    AZ: We plan to expand our bespoke customization, offering more natural fabrics like cashmere, linen, and cotton. We are also developing a limited-edition capsule collection that explores heritage textiles from underrepresented regions. In addition, we will host more art events that transform our showroom into a living gallery to immerse guests in the textures, sounds, and spirit of FLOSO.

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