Share

These hot accessories are made of rubber tyres

accreditation
PHOTO:
PHOTO:


Called @Tyred, it’s a collection of chunky necklaces and belts that, according to creator Adam Levin, are “inspired by the uniquely South African craft of cutting patterns into rubber tyres to create sandals, or izimbadada, as Zulu migrants have done since they came to Johannesburg to work on the mines”.

Levin is an author, but he trained as an anthropologist. On his journeys through 23 African countries to create his first book, The Wonder Safaris, he began a love affair with handmade contemporary African design, which convinced him to champion 30 designers in Pace, a watershed design show, in time for the 2010 World Cup. A year later, he co-founded Design Network Africa, the first truly contemporary and effective regular forum for African designers.

Levin has had two much loved homeware stores, Imagine Nation and ACE, but this is his first exhibition as a designer.

“I’ve always been interested in the work I’ve seen at kwamaimai,” he says, a muti market in an old mine compound in downtown Jozi.

“However, I only looked at the product and started playing with other applications a couple of years ago. Rubber is quite an amazing material and, because of the way tyres are shaped, the belts I’ve designed wrap biomorphically around the body, hugging the wearer.”

The likes of singer Thandiswa Mazwai and journalist, designer and publicist Maria McCloy have already been spotted wearing the brand. The pieces are priced between R150 and R390.

  • Find it at Market on Main on Sundays, upstairs from the food market. Alternatively, call 079 795 8846 to order


We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE