Mandela granddaughter launches chic collaborative fashion line

01 June 2017 - 14:16 By Yolisa Mkele
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
Winnie Mandela after receiving a scarf with 491 pearls from her granddaughter, designer Swati Mandela.
Winnie Mandela after receiving a scarf with 491 pearls from her granddaughter, designer Swati Mandela.
Image: Supplied

Scarves present a peculiar problem for many a winter ensemble. The right scarf gives you a tres chic French-style sophistication. Frumpy civilians wilt in the presence of your en vogue luminescence. But the wrong one leaves you looking like a tired parent whose primary fashion concerns are comfort and warmth.

Donning a cape is an even riskier proposition but Swati Mandela, granddaughter of the former first lady, Winnie, in partnership with fashion designer Roi Kaskara, is hoping her new fashion house Swati by Roi Kaskara will have women channelling their elegance rather than looking world-weary.

"For me, putting on one of our garments is like putting on armour - it makes you stand tall and feel really good," said Mandela.

Her foray into fashion has been 20 years in the making - her initial plan was to design a line of shoes. Over time that idea evolved through many other forms before she settled on making scarves, capes and handbags.

"I love scarves and grew up with them. My grandmother and mother are always wearing scarves so it seemed like a natural fit," said Mandela.

The fulfilment of her dream came a step closer when she met bespoke men's suit purveyor Kaskara.

"When I met Roi and I saw the beautiful suits he makes I thought that I'd love to collaborate with him. I told him I wanted to 'power dress' women," she said.

"In African culture women like to wrap themselves, so I wanted to do a modern take on the wrap, scarf and blanket, adding a chic twist to it. We're making our scarves for women in the boardroom, for CEOs, or for housewives who want to look stylish during their busy days."

 

The fruit of that labour is a line of scarves and capes that are colourful and sometimes dramatic. Neither the capes nor the scarves are designed for wallflowers, though.

That said, they don't shout for attention nor are they brash. Instead they have a kind of unconcealed gravitas that catches the eye.

So if you don't feel like spending winter draped in greys and beiges, enrobe yourself in swirls of colour in accessories from the Swati by Roi Kaskara line.

• You can find Swati by Roi Kaskara at the Roi Kaskara store at the Da Vinci Mall in Sandton, Joburg. For more information visit roikaskara.com.

• This article was originally published in The Times.

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now