Inspired by colours of the passing landscape whilst driving through the Cedarberg, PICHULIK designer Katherine-Mary noticed the stark contrast between barren stretches versus lush green pastures and decided to incorporate the subtle hues into her latest Autumn/Winter2018 jewellery & clothing collection, titled Talisman for Rain:
Earthy tones of fern and Amazon green hand woven knits and beadwork used by designer Nadya von Stein, mixed with two toned green, malachite and mottled green serpentine are the dominant colours interwoven together.
'I wanted to create pieces that double as totems and talismans totems because they define a tribe or social group and are artefacts that bind certain people together, and talismans because they are imbued with the power to bring something about or ward something off. I wanted the pieces to have an ancient, sacred feel,’ Pichulik says of the design process. 'Because totems are assembled of elements that carry spiritual reverence or depict family legends, sacred beings and culturally significant animals, people or historical events, she says.
'The autumn/winter18 earrings and necklaces such as Earth Mother mimic this. The team worked with layers of jade and cattle horn, both of which symbolise Earth in Celtic cultures. The simple, voluptuous Erzulie pendant and earrings take their name from Erzulie, the Haitian goddess of love, who shares a name with the Yaruban river goddess. Similarly, PICHULIK's Mama Wata earrings take their cue (and name) from the water spirit Mama Wata (Mother Water), who is celebrated through much of Africa'.
The collection features PICHULIK's trademark yacht rope to which the team
has added real and faux malachite, serpentine, red jasper, freshwater pearls,
Transvaal jade and brass. It brings together the two distinct styles that have
emerged in Pichulik's work over the last three seasons: the heavy handbeaded designs of the Habibi collection and the pared down geometric shapes as seen in the Harvest collection.
'We have begun to define and refine our ranges to offer a premium seasonal
collection while continually updating the Ndebele and Classics ranges that
embody PICHULIK's origins,’ says Pichulik. 'The Talisman for Rain collection, like
all our work, is first and foremost a celebration of hand craft and all items
goes through two workshops before they are complete, from casting the wax moulds for components to handwrapping them.’It also introduces the brand's new disc rings designed to be stacked with any PICHULIK ring to create a strong, personalised hand adornment.
True to the brand DNA, Talisman is inspired by and created for strong women,
a message that is brought across by You Are Enough, the slogan that has become part of every new PICHULIK collection. 'As women, our greatest shortcoming is the belief that we are not enough. Everything in our lives are determined by this and I want our jewellery to remind women that they are enough; that being worthy does not stem from something superficial and
cosmetic but is woven into our souls. It is something no one can take away from us.’
For winter, designer Nadya von Stein has echoed PICHULIK's greens in the handwoven knits and beadwork of her garments. #PichulikbyNadya's commitment to sustainable design is all the more significant with this collection's focus on water. The predominant fabric is, as before, hemp, a
plant that is far less thirsty than conventional crops used to make fibre.
Their winter suit is made from knitted organic hemp melange and the high waisted trousers and matching jersey top and jacket incorporate PICHULIK's half moon cut out. A standout new piece is the organic hemp stretch T-shirt emblazoned with PICHULIK's talisman for rain using a combination of gold foiling, handpainting and beading. 'I wanted to create something fresh, to evoke the feeling you get when a long dry spell has been broken and the sweet, fresh, powerful smell of the earth after the first rains,' says Von Stein.
Pichulik worked with other powerful women, strong brands and creatives. 'We worked with Missibaba to create two bags in line with the totemic earrings.We also commissioned Nabeeha Mohamed, a painter, artist and #pichulikwoman, to create a drawing which we are going to use in the storytelling together with totem illustrations by Ruschka du Toit.’
About Missibaba
Missibaba is a Cape Town based, luxury accessory label founded by leather devotee Chloe Townsend. Dedicated to empowering women, the Missibaba family is 18 women strong. Their
accessories radiate an exotic exuberance with a flair for colour and texture and continuously push
the boundaries of imagination. As slow fashion enthusiasts, the consummate team behind the
Missibaba brand takes the time to meticulously hand craft each unique piece with patience and love. Passionate about South Africa and supporting the local industry, Missibaba invests in developing the team’s skills and is involved in upliftment and skills sharing programme in communities from Stellenbosch to Nairobi.
Quote from Chloe Townsend
“Collaborating with Pichulik felt very natural. Our brands share a similar visual
language and ethos with both offerings complementing and enhancing the beauty of all materials used. We both seek to celebrate women and the feminine, sharing this joy, love and strength through our pieces. Missibaba used locally sourced leather in earthy tones that embody a call for rain throughout this collection".
Available in stores from 17 May
starting with PICHULIK's online shop.
Shop the collection at www.pichulik.com
Social Media Links:
Facebook: @PICHULIK
Instagram: @pichulikafrica
Twitter: @Pichulik
Lookbook credits:
Photographer: Alix Rose Cowie
Hair and Makeup: Amori Birch
Stylist: Katherine-Mary Pichulik
Models: Taira Naidoo at Fantastic Agency
Maye Srouji at My Friend Ned
Womenswear: #PichulikbyNady
Happy Mothers Day
cath