Merchants on Long

Africa's Original Concept Store

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Hand Woven bags by Swazi-brand KHOKHO

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Merchants favourites Chulaap, MaXhosa by Laduma and Fundudzi featured in Renaissance Magazine.

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#SaintHeron

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Lalesso Resort 2017 Collection

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Shop MaXhosa by Laduma online - http://www.merchantsonlong.com/6-shop#s[5][]:92&sid:1&h:leftColumn&ics:6 

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FEATURED: #MerchantsAimeParis featured in Marie Claire South Africa Jan/Feb 2017 issue showcasing Merchants favourite designers MaXhosa by Laduma, Loza Maleombho, Lalesso and Okapi bags.

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DARKPHASE 3.1

Founder Anthony Smith and designer Ulfah Davids are the brains behind coveted streetwear brand 2BOP, an apparel label based in Cape Town. They manufacture and produce headwear, apparel and accessories locally. Based on comfort the brand is focused on prints, weird colours and graphics taking inspiration primarily from video games. Their latest lookbook  DARKPHASE 3.1 which featured the collection they showed at SAWM SS17 was styled by Gabby Kannemeyer and shot by Kyle Weeks.

Information and images via various sources.

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QUEEN POKOU

New Merchants favourite Loza Maleombho is a multi-dimensional designer/artist. Between exhibiting her captivating self-portrait series Alien Edits at art galleries, she also manages to create clothing that pays homage to her heritage. Entitled Queen Pokou, her latest collection her “Autumn 16 collection ‘Queen Pokou’ builds on the African mythos of her Spring 16 collection ‘Zaouli’ that celebrated the Guro culture, closing its spotlight on the life of one person in particular – Queen Abla Poku the founder of Baoule ethnicity of West Africa based in the centre of Côte d’Ivoire. Poku helped create an egalitarian community similar to the Igbo communities of Southern Nigeria and is one of the great Queens of Africa, often touted as Africa’s feminists long before the term became popular.

There are many of the now signature Maleombho accents in the new collection, her quirk of fringing hemlines, flared hems and strategic cut outs. But this collection sees Maleombho uses her lightest fabric worked in gauzy striped jumpsuits and heavily pleated dresses. Her structured dresses and deconstructed blazers are also strong highlights, everything tied together by the impeccable fit and strong silhouettes.”

Information and quote via style.partyjollof.com. Images via various sources.

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UNDERWATER MAGIC WITH OKAPI

Merchants favourite Okapi have released the lookbook for their capsule spring/summer 2016 collection. Focused primarily on the bright colours and joys of summer, the collection features new pouches, cardholders and mini handbags in ostrich and crocodile. The collection also includes an exclusive springbok pouch designed in collaboration with The Saxon. Shop the collection in store!

Images and information via okapi.com

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TEENAGE REBELLION

Nigerian fashion brand Orange Culture has become a favourite at SAMW with its stylishly rebellious designs, with each collection getting better and better, “Playing with femininity and dangling on the edge of masculinity, Adebayo Oke-lawal is creating fashion for the outsiders and the trendsetters. Inspired by teenage rebellion, he plays on the idea of conformity. He takes the monotony of school uniforms and gives it a fashionable makeover… [using] glorious fabrics such as linens, silks, organzas and coated cottons.” The lookbook was styled by Gavin Mikey Collins and shot by Kyle Weeks.

Information and images via wonderlandmagazine.com

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NECK

“NECK” is the name of the capsule collection inspired by the grace and strength of the African Giraffe and marked the debut of local fashion extraordinaire Rich Mnisi’s diffusion line, R by RICH MNISI. The much-loved brand collaborated with local celebrity Maps Maponyane to create designs that were more accessible but still true to the brand’s aesthetic.

Information and images via various sources.

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LEONCE RAPHAEL AGBODJÉLOU

Born in 1965 in Porto-Novo, Benin, where he still lives and works, Leonce Raphael Agbodjélou is known for his dramatic photographs that capture the dynamic energy of contemporary Porto-Novo. Drawing on subjects from cultural and street life, Agbodjélou produces carefully composed photographs using medium format film and natural light. Trained by his father, the world-renowned studio photographer, Joseph Moise Agbodjélou in the conventions of West African studio photography, Agbodjélou reinterprets these traditional methods through his own unique approach and individual style.

Quote and images via smacgallery.com

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#WOMENOFMZANSI

Merchants favourite Henriette Botha recently collaborated with Churche to design bespoke pieces of jewellery in celebration of Women’s Month. Using a beautiful portraiture photo series and #womenofmzanzi, Henriette highlighted 8 women she felt embodied strength and needed to be admired.

Images and information via luckypony.co.za

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HAMIDOU MAIGA

While his precursor Seydou Keita and contemporary Malick Sidibe have achieved international recognition by museums, collectors and publishers worldwide, Hamidou Maiga’s archive of negatives has only just come to light. Born 1932, Bobodioulasso, Burkina Faso, Maiga’s career as a photographer was launched in the early 1950s when he purchased his first camera, a medium format Souflex. At the age of twenty he learnt the rudiments of photography and printing through photojournalism, and in 1958 Maiga opened his first studio in N’Gouma.

Quote and images via jackbellgallery.com