LOIN CLOTH AND ASHES X SCOTTISH LEADER

Words: Hayden Horner | Images: Supplied

What happens when 15 years of African print and fashion know-how and Scottish whisky heritage collide? The result is a vibrant celebration of print and colour so delicious you can almost taste it. We are talking about the exciting Loin Cloth and Ashes x Scottish Leader collaboration.

To celebrate their new label design, the bold whisky brand partnered with Anissa Mpungwe, creative director and founder of Loin Cloth and Ashes, to create a range called The Umswenko Tribe Collection.

Derived from the English word ‘swank’ or ‘swanky’, umswenko is the attitude or behaviour one expresses in a bold and brave way that helps show supreme confidence in oneself. In South African pop culture, umswenko has become more than just an attitude; it's a lifestyle. Whether you’re a bhujwa, a skrr-skrr, a slay queen or king, what you wear speaks for you, too.

Scottish Leader is confident and passionate about having a different take on things, which fits in perfectly with Loin Cloth and Ashes' eclectic point of view.

Here, Anissa fills us in on what to expect from her Scottish Leader x Umswenko Tribe Collection.

Tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Anissa Mpungwe, creative director and founder of Loin Cloth and Ashes. Throughout my career in fashion, I have had a keen interest in telling stories through our collections, exploring different social themes while having fun and engaging with our customers. I have been in the industry for 15 years, participated in fashion weeks across the globe, dressed a few well-known personalities. But my favourite people are the Loin Cloth and Ashes followers that have been with us for a long time.

How would you describe the Loin Cloth and Ashes brand?

Loin Cloth and Ashes is an Africa-based fashion and lifestyle brand that explores a modern, functional, and relevant design approach with a neo-African point of view. Looking at new classics in attractive prints on essential items, we create looks that are made to last beyond a season. We merge some traditional methods and new techniques to form exaggerated shapes while exploring eclectic fabrics. Applying a subtle architectural quality that pays tribute to our rich natural habitats and history while creating a contemporary, warm visual.

Who or what do you have in mind when you design a collection?

The balance between our customer’s needs, brand ethos and collection theme. My thought and creative process has changed through the years however I have a playfulness and witty approach in each collection.

Tell us a bit about your Scottish Leader collaboration?

Scottish Leader approached us (to develop a collection in celebration of their new label design), because of our interpretation of print and how our pieces worked together within a collection. Expect to see a lot of print, classic cuts, shirt-dresses, lounge pieces and smart two-pieces. A relatable and easy to pair wardrobe was the aim for us.

How would you describe the Scottish Leader Umswenko Tribe Collection?

The collection is a celebration of all things print and colour. After a trying year, I felt inspired to have a bit of fun with colour and print in classic shapes to look and feel great in. The silhouettes are true to the Loin Cloth and Ashes aesthetic, fun in the back and the front.

How were you inspired by the new Scottish Leader label design?

They are a brand of blended whiskey, like Loin Cloth and Ashes is a brand of blended prints and colours. I thought this was a great alignment between the two worlds.

Want to own a piece inspired by the Loin Cloth and Ashes Umswenko Tribe Collection? Here, Anissa has curated a 360-degree Edit that fits within the ethos of the clothing collection - and will make welcome additions to the pieces! Don't forget: tell us which piece you'd add to this Edit, and follow along on social media and you could win a R10 000 voucher to shop these pieces. Click here to enter.

Last word: do you have any advice for other aspiring young designers?

Start small, always charge a fee and rest as much as you can. Keep an eye on what is happening in the tech world and how it can be integrated to your new business. Once you have figured this out, get a lawyer and accountant to make sure the structure of your business is in order.

Scottish Leader x Superbalist Competition: Competition Rules

Stand a chance to win one R10 000 Superbalist gift voucher (“Voucher Prize”).

1. Promoter: This competition is promoted by Fashion United SA (Pty) Ltd t/a Superbalist.com (reg. no. 2017/007569/07) (“Superbalist.com”, “Superbalist”, “us”, “we” or “our”).
2. Competition Period: This competition runs from 00h00 on 23 March 2021 until 23h59 on 30 April 2021 (“Competition Period”). No entries will be accepted after 23h59 on 30 April 2021.
3. Who can enter: You are entitled to participate in this competition if: (i) you are a natural person who is at least 18 years old and who resides in South Africa; and (ii) it is lawful for you to be awarded the particular prize. You may NOT participate if you are a supplier of goods or services in connection with this competition, or if you are a director, member, partner, employee, agent of, or consultant to Superbalist.com or any other entity which directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by Superbalist.com, or if you are any of the aforementioned persons’ spouse, life partner, parent, child, brother, sister or business partner.
4. How to enter: This competition is run on the superbalist.com website, as well as related Superbalist mobi-sites and software applications. To enter you must, during the Competition Period, “like” both the Scottish Leader and Superbalist pages on Instagram and comment on the relevant Superbalist Instagram Post, answering the question “What item would you add to the Scottish Leader Umswenko Tribe Collection Edit?” (collectively a “Qualifying Entry”). Each Qualifying Entry will be entered into the draw and you will stand a chance to win a Voucher Prize. Note that should you at any stage act in contravention of section 5 below, your entry will be withdrawn from the competition.
5. Content of your entry: Your entry may not: (i) contain any foul language, obscenities, defamation, hate speech or any otherwise inappropriate content in our sole discretion; nor (ii) contain any content which may be harmful to Superbalist.com or its associated companies in any way; nor (iii) infringe the intellectual property or other rights of Superbalist.com, its associated companies or any third party. We reserve the right to remove entries which we deem to be in contravention of this section 5.
6. How many times you can enter: You may enter this competition as many times as you wish during the Competition Period. Each Qualifying Entry (completed as described in section 4 above) will give you one entry into the draw. Please note that each additional entry to your first entry must be different.
7. Entry fees: There are no entry fees to participate in this competition, and no additional charges involved in acting as set out in section 4 above.
8. Prize: We will randomly select one (1) winner after the end of the Competition Period (i.e. one winner in total), in accordance with section 9 below. Each winner will receive a corresponding Voucher Prize.
9. Winner: The winners will be chosen by way of random draw, at or before 16h00 on 1 May 2021. Each winner will be announced by way of direct message to his/her Instagram inbox the first business day after the relevant draw. We will then send a direct message via the particular winner’s Superbalist login email address to request his/her name, surname, email address, ID number, delivery address and telephone number (“Participant Information”). We will make two direct attempts to obtain such information. Once we have received this information and validated the particular winner, confirming he/she did register on the apps outlined in Section 4, we will email the corresponding Voucher Prize to him/her as soon as possible, subject to section 10 below. Proof of identity will be required in order to validate the particular winner. We will select winners who have taken the steps set out in section 4 above and who are in compliance with these rules by way of random draw, at our sole discretion. Regarding the application of these rules and the selection of a winner and his/her prize in terms hereof, our decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into with a competition participant other than the winners.
10. Disqualification of winner: There are certain situations in which a winner will be disqualified from receipt of his/her prize, namely: (i) he/she fails to provide Participant Information within 24 hours of it being requested by us for the second time; (ii) he/she is found to have contravened any other rule set out herein; or (iii) in anticipation of delivery of the corresponding Voucher Prize, he/she refuses to or cannot provide reasonably sufficient documentation to verify his/her identity. In the event of disqualification of a particular winner, we will be entitled in our sole discretion to select another winner from amongst the competition participants.
11. Use of participant and winner information: By participating in this competition, you consent to the use by Superbalist.com or a third party nominated by Superbalist.com of your Participant Information, so that your name and surname can be announced as a winner and the corresponding Voucher Prize can be delivered to you. The particular winner may also be asked to permit the use of his/her image in marketing material, to participate in marketing activities, to permit Superbalist the use of the image uploaded in marketing material, and/or be present when the relevant draw is taking place or he/she is announced as a winner, but he/she will be entitled to decline to do so. By entering this competition, you consent that Superbalist.com can use the contents of the competition submission / your winning Qualifying Entry for marketing purposes.
12. Unforeseen events: In the event of unforeseen circumstances or causes beyond our reasonable control, we reserve the right to cancel this competition (before entries are received), to change the number or nature of the prize at any time (on notice to you), or to change the rules at our discretion (provided that we will not change the conditions for participation or conditions for being awarded the particular prize, as stated herein).
13. Rules: By participating in this competition, you agree to all the competition rules set out above and the Superbalist Terms and Conditions relating to Gift Vouchers (if applicable, and accessible at https://superbalist.com/terms_and_conditions), without exception.