Contemporary African fashion brand, KISUA, marked the opening of its Cape Town store at the V&A Waterfront with the unveiling of The Albertina Sisulu Centenary Collection. As part of Mama Sisulu’s 100th year celebrations, the iconic African fashion creator has launched a fashion collection under the theme ‘Victory is Ours’ – a modern depiction of the anti-apartheid activist’s sacrifice and contribution towards the new South Africa.
First I heard of the brand was due to its clients who include award winning musician Beyoncé and the YOOX Net-a-Porter Group, the world’s leading online luxury fashion retailer. KISUA is the only African fashion brand with distribution centers on 3 continents- Africa, Europe and America, from where the company services a global client base through its international ecommerce platform. The company won ‘Best Emerging African Brand’ at the Best Brands Africa Awards 2015.
KISUA, a unique fashion brand that takes inspiration from traditional African techniques and materials, blending them with a contemporary design aesthetic and ethical production methods to create styles for the modern professional. This 20 piece #MaSisulu100 tribute fashion collection takes inspiration from Mama Sisulu’s life story, with a focus on the 1950’s and 1960’s when she was a young lady in her prime. The collection infuses Mama Sisulu’s spirit into the KISUA DNA to create pieces that celebrate impeccable classic style with a strong African signature.
The collection recalls defining moments in Mama Sisulu’s life and South African history. The ‘Rivonia Trial Dress’ with its fully flared base is an inspired take on the memory of Albertina Sisulu arriving at the courts in traditional Xhosa dress for the Rivonia Trial to support her husband Walter Sisulu who along with Nelson Mandela and others had been charged with treason for their fight against the apartheid state. The Mbokodo Jacket and Pallazo Pants is a printed power suit that celebrates the strength of the thousands of women who marched in 1956 against unjust apartheid pass laws; Mama Sisulu was one of the march organisers. There are several pieces in the collection for men too, such as the collarless ‘Victory Shirt’ with its narrow binding trim finish on the neckline and sleeve hems, that commemorates the day freedom fighter Albertina Sisulu welcomed Walter Sisulu, the love of her life back to their Soweto home from Robben Island where he served 26 years as a political prisoner.
‘We are very excited to be unveiling The Albertina Sisulu Centenary Collection at the opening of the KISUA V&A Waterfront store. KISUA is bringing contemporary African fashion to Cape Town and celebrating Mama Sisulu’s legacy as a freedom fighter and human rights activist. She was however more than just an activist; she was also a nurse and community caregiver. KISUA and the Sisulu Family have set up bursary fund for nurses in her name to continue her legacy,’ says Mensah. The proceeds from the fashion collection will go towards the Albertina Sisulu Bursary Fund for Nurses, administered by the Charities Aid Foundation, to advance skills development in the healthcare sector.
‘The Sisulu family is excited to collaborate with KISUA in marking Ma Sisulu’s centenary, by celebrating her impact as a freedom fighter and her role as a healthcare professional. We would therefore encourage the nation to seize the opportunity to support this bursary fund to assist in the much-needed revitalisation of our healthcare system,’ concludes Sisulu’s granddaughter, Ayanda Sisulu-Dustan.
The collection is available for purchase on kisua.com, the KISUA Sandton City and V&A Waterfront stores and selected retailers.
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