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This year’s Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair on the Hyde Park Corner mall’s rooftop was, as usual, wonderfully curated and crammed with some of South Africa’s most beautiful things. One stand that caught my eye belonged to Cape Town designer Hannah Lavery.
Her eponymous line is a beautiful mix of simple, minimalist pieces made out of linen, rayon and leather.
The 30-year-old Port Elizabeth-born designer tells #Trending she started out studying law, but stopped two years short of completing her degree to pursue a fashion career.
“I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I just knew it had to be something creative,” she says.
Not a bad choice, considering she now runs a successful line stocked in her own store in Cape Town (there are Joburg stockists too).
The Hannah Lavery aesthetic is wonderfully understated, exuding a cool sophistication. There are pieces you know you’ll wear forever.
“I’ve always had a tendency for minimalism and simplicity. I’ve always felt my clothing should be functional above all else and that you should be comfortable. Your clothing shouldn’t restrict you in any way. I’ve always believed design should be subtle and that the person should be able to be seen past the garments.”
Lavery is focused on the environmental effects of clothing, which is why she primarily uses high-quality natural fibres.
“I carefully select my fabrics. I try to avoid cotton, because it’s quite problematic in the world. Ultimately what I try to encourage is to consume less. It’s about thinking more carefully about what you possess and to purchase fewer items that can last through seasons and trends. Buy less and use your items for longer.”
While Lavery’s clothes are a little bit pricier than your average MRP T-shirt, they’re pieces that do what she believes in – stand the test of time and trends. We can get behind that. - Grethe Kemp
- You can order her clothes at hannahlaveryshop.myshopify.com
