Work Shop New Town is Joburg's newest fashion hot spot

06 December 2015 - 02:00
By Matthew McClure
Mon Âme, a local design store, stocks pieces by designers such as Anmari Honiball and Guillotine.
Image: Moeketsi Moticoe Mon Âme, a local design store, stocks pieces by designers such as Anmari Honiball and Guillotine.

Among the mixed-use historical and architectural gems that surround the old Market Square in Newtown, Joburg, Work Shop New Town has launched, where over 45 lifestyle brands, stalls, studios and workshops are bursting with vibrant creativity. We give you a quick tour of some of our favourites

MON ÂME

The only thing we love more than a local designer store is one store stocking many designers. Mon Âme is home to some of our favourite creatives including Anmari Honiball and Guillotine. monameshop@source-sa.com

WOLF AND MAIDEN

If you've got a thing for beautiful handmade leather goods, you'll find it hard to resist furniture designer Wade Ross Skinner's range of travel and business accessories. Inspired by an encounter with a French leather-worker, Skinner taught himself the intricacies of crafting the material into unique items. Our best? The Barbershop toiletries case and the canvas and leather Barcelona backpack. wolfandmaiden.com

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MORPHE

Designer Marize Malan's fashion label Morphe started as a hobby while working as a fashion assistant for big fashion brands. Gathering as much experience as she could from fellow fashion industry players, Malan moved back home to Joburg from Cape Town in 2012 and devoted her time to developing Morphe into the label that it is today - practical, wearable staples. marizemalan.co.za

AFRICAN IMAGE

African arts and crafts is having a serious (and long-overdue) moment all over the world and African Image's collections celebrate exactly that, from antique artefacts and textiles to contemporary functional and bright objets. african-image.co.za

THE PERFECT HAIR

An African natural haircare range for natural African hair, manufactured locally and created by Taryn Gill, who says: "The Perfect Hair online retail platform was formed, tapping into the global retail trend of women wanting to transition to healthy hair." Buh-bye creamy crack! theperfecthair.co.za

YIVANI NATURALS

The quest for organic, all-natural and chemical-free beauty products is never-ending, but Yivani founder Ntshantsha Tafeni's body washes, butters, conditioners, creams and balms using African ingredients makes the search that much easier to find natural alternatives to conventional beauty and healthcare products. yivani.co.za

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BUTTER PUDDING

We're excited by this oh-so cool kids' range by Papama Ramogase. "I've never really been into cutesy kids' clothes. Butter Pudding is the antithesis of logo-brandished clothes. It's for those who seek individuality, who want, like I do, the personalities of their children to shine through," says Ramogase. Sold! buttterpudding.com

SPAZA HOMEWARE

Channelling your inner Suzelle DIY this season? Look out for this range of cute, handmade homeware items featuring carefully considered techniques on eco-friendly dishcloths, aprons, bread bags, linen and oven mitts. spazastore.com

FAMKE

Known for beautiful simple pieces, Famke has a jewellery stand that's brilliant for gifts to yourself, stocking fillers and stacking rings. Our top pick? The limited-edition Famke x Jana collection of gold-teeth necklaces and tie clips. famke.co.za

HEY GORGEOUS

A family-owned bath and body brand that prides itself on natural and organic ingredients. The products smell good enough to eat, with our favourites including Cookies & Cream Whipped Body Mousse and the Peppermint Cream Luxurious Foot Mousse. hey-gorgeous.co.za

OTHER

Kisua and Black Coffee also have spaces at WSNT. We don't like to pick favourites, but these two stands are definitely two of the best.

Check it our for yourself

Work Shop New Town is open seven days a week. Monday to Friday from 11am to 7pm, Saturday from 10am to 7pm and Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Visit workshopnewtown.com.