Looking to enhance your wardrobe or reinvent your look completely but have absolutely no idea where to begin? Fear not dear reader, for What’s On in Cape Town has come up with a list of some of the most original, innovative and all-round authentic clothing and apparel stores for you to explore this side of the mountain. Here we recognise artists and designers creating fashion trends to suit every style.
IMPRINT
Imprint ZA is an African Luxury Fashion brand with designs inspired by modern streetwear and juxtaposed vintage elements. The creators at Imprint do just what their brand name signifies – they make their mark on African-inspired fashion as a whole. This is a luxury fashion brand that is becoming well established throughout the continent of Africa.
Be it a high-fashion event, a glamourous birthday celebration or an engagement ceremony, Imprint has the original design to suit your body type as well as personality. Imprint online stocks a wide array of items, from full outfits to accessories like socks, sunglasses and shades. Some items are sourced internationally, and as such, relevant tax and import costs will be added accordingly.
Clothing brands such as Imprint are the visionaries, mover and shakers – the industry stalwarts. When you purchase an item of clothing from this brand, you not only wear the label, you wear a piece of the Maker. Imprint styling has had the honour of having their designs featured on the covers of GQ South Africa in 2021 as well as Africa Is Now magazine as well as dressed celebrities like Pearl Thusi and Pabi Moloi.
When: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Where: 349 Albert Road, Woodstock, Cape Town | 4 Princess Place, Parktown, Johannesburg
Website: imprintza.com | Email: info@imprintza.co.za | Tel: 084 802 0682 (Whatsapp Business) | 083 632 0793 (Direct)
Facebook: @ImprintZA | Instagram: @imprint_za
VINTAGE AND THE CITY
In 2013 what started as a love for fashion and the environment and the desire to marry the two fast spiralled into one of the most recognized Vintage Apparel clothing stores today.
Vintage and the City stocks some of the most unique and sought after garments from decades past. You can expect garments in great condition and of a high quality.
In 2020, after a good 7 year run, they decided to close their doors permanently in a bid to curate and focus on their online store in-depth. The online store is absolutely thriving. Their focus is apparel from the 80’s, 90’s and early 00’s. Garments range in aesthetic from streetwear to festival wear to classic pieces.
If you’re wanting to explore the online rails of beautiful clothes and shop sustainably then Vintage and the City comes highly recommended.
Where: Online and Saturdays trading at The Neighbourgoods Market at the Old Biscuit Mill.
Website: vintageandthecity.co.za | Email: info@vintageandthecity.co.za
Facebook: @VintageandtheCity | Instagram: @vintage.andthe.city
THE SPORTS CONCEPT STORE
The Sports Concept Store is a Sportswear name that is fast becoming the go-to when it comes to sourcing comfortable, well-made garments for both sport and leisure. The Sports Concept Store delivers high quality and high performance at the very least. Stocking brands such as Run On Clouds running shoes and Hoka One One, running has never felt so good.
This is the perfect place for sports and fitness fanatics to feel at home. If you’re looking for quality sporting accessories such as yoga mats, sweat bands and caps, you can be sure to find them here.
The Sports Concept Store is also a lead stockist of handcrafted American eyewear brand, Randolph Sunglasses, designed to withstand some of the toughest conditions as well as Gooroo yoga mats which come in a variety of funky colours and a patented design to keep them in place even when wet.
When: Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm | Saturday, 9am to 4pm | Sunday, 10am to 2pm
Where: Shop DO3, Cape Quarter, Somerset Rd, Cape Town
Website: thesportsconceptstore.co.za | Email: sales@thesportconceptstore.co.za | Tel: 083 662 9656
Facebook: @thesportsconceptstore | Instagram: @thesportsconceptstore
LATCHET
Latchet is a fashion-conscious, environmentally and socially driven clothing label with a focus on empowerment and education through fashion. Latchet believes in putting people above profit margins and producing all their garments ethically in Cape Town.
The brand is also paving the way as being one of the first to be proudly non-gender specific, a term becoming increasingly popular in today’s culture. Latchet prides themselves on being all-inclusive across the board and that means with sizes too. This is one of the few labels that stock items from XS-XXXL.
Latchet is especially mindful of the harsh realities of the fashion environment and its contribution to global warming and as such has developed a mode of service that implements a little-to-no-waste policy. Items can thus be made-to-order accordingly. Any fabric waste from production is in turn used as a new pattern and testing samples.
Where: Online
Website: lachet.co.za Email: info@latchet.co.za | Tel: 071 318 0137
Facebook: @LatchetCPT | Instagram: @latchet_clothing
FAMKE
Famke Jewelry is a young female-led production house that specializes in niche, one-of-a-kind sterling silver and gold pieces.
With a love of individual and custom based jobs, this production house works by appointment only, strictly no-walk ins.
Once your appointment has been reserved you can make your way to their flagship store, located in the heart of Cape Town on Park road, where you can enjoy a deluxe cup of freshly brewed coffee and browse an exclusive range of their jewellery, among other items.
Famke also hosts a stall at The Watershed at the V&A Waterfront whereby one can view and purchase items during the week, anytime between 10am and 5pm from a Thursday to Sunday.
Famke may also be found at other stockists across the Western Cape such as Tenga Tenga in Noordhoek Farm Village and Madam Botany in Knysna.
When: By appointment only.
Where: Famke Concept Store, Park Rd, Gardens, Cape Town.
Website: famke.co.za | Email: info@famke.co.za | Tel: 079 978 5078
Facebook: @famkejewellery | Instagram: @famkejewellery
BOW TOES
When one thinks of apparel and accessories, the last place one usually thinks of is how to upstyle their shoes. This is where Bow Toes stepped in, and up. The artist behind the idea saw an avenue and decided to walk it.
Upon being diagnosed with cancer and having to undergo radiation treatment, the Bow Toes designer needed a hobby to help keep her going in a positive direction.
She noticed her cousin’s bright and interesting shoelaces one afternoon and after searching for a similar pair fruitlessly, her mind wandered to what we now have today as the official Bow Toes online store. It is here where you can find original and quirky shoelaces to help spice up even the funkiest outfit and get your feet bopping along to a groovy tune.
The owner behind Bow Toes relentlessly pursued her idea and has such was able to secure 4 different local markets as well as provide a percentage of her sales to a charity called the Ditto Project
Where: Online
Website: bowtoes.co.za | Email: hello@bowtoes.co.za | Tel: 062 249 7836
Facebook: @Bowtoesza | Instagram: @bow.toes
OFF DUTY APPAREL
Fellow creatives and partners Raeesah Albertus and Immanuel Makuse decided to utilize their individual skills and passions and created Off Duty Apparel, a proudly South African fashion range that is so much more than your regular clothing line. The notion behind the name is their special range of comfort wear designed to make you look and feel good whilst relaxing or, off duty.
Off Duty clothing has something for everyone. Working with a quality over quantity notion, Raeesah and Immanuel take their time selecting the best materials to use for each look. Items have a minimalistic look and feel, making them perfect for walking, jogging, or lounging around the house.
This brand is environmentally conscious too and exceptionally affordable. The duo is based in Cape Town and ship their items all over the country via their online store. Before looking good, this is their mantra of FEELING good!
Where: Online
Website: offduty.shop | Email: info@offduty.shop
Facebook: @Offdutyappparel | Instagram: @off_duty_za
BASTILLE | MAISON MARA
This unique concept store brings together a fine selection of local and international high-end clothing brands under one roof. The items available are unisex and include names such as Veja, Ganni, and A.P.C to mention a few.
Only items of the highest thread count and technical quality are selected to fall under the Bastille | Maison Mara group so you can be sure the items you see are of high quality.
If you’re a fan of exclusive fragrances then you’re in luck because Bastille | Maison Mara has a large and exclusive selection available for your senses to engage in. Bastille | Maison Mara makes sure they import products of only the most refined nature, influencing customers to explore new products and brands with a good recommendation behind them.
You can find ready-to-wear items from sneakers and sandals to accessories and cosmetics all under one roof with Bastille | Maison Mara. Take a look at their range of Ganni tye-dyed bucket hats – a must for the summer sun.
When: Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 5pm and Saturdays from 10am to 4pm
Where: 5 Jarvis St, De Waterkant, Cape Town | Online
Website: maisonmara.com | Email: contact@maisonmara.com | Tel: 021 418 1600
Facebook: @BastilleMaisonMara | Instagram: @bastille_maisonmara
ROZE COLLECTION
Roze Collection is a South-African run online-store that specializes in curvy clothing for women. They understand women come in all shapes and sizes and dream of creating a brand that is inclusive of such. With styles from patterned and floral to plain, chic or wavy, you can be certain you will find something to suit your mood, style, or both. They have items from corporate lawyers to mother of the bride to lazy Sundays.
The team at Roze Collection makes sure their brand comes with good credentials and takes every bit of care to ensure their clothing and accessories are of high quality and sourced ethically. Brought to life by Sue Clifton and Claire Scott, after many years of girl time and dreaming of good things, Roze Collection was born.
Sizes range from XS/38 to XL/46. Women with a fuller figure and varying height are guaranteed to find what you’re looking for, even if you don’t know what that is! Their clothing is designed to flatter as well as accentuate in all the right places.
Where: Online
Website: rozecollection.co.za | Email: customercare@rozecollection.co.za | Tel: 079 652 9381
Facebook: @rozecollectiontm | Instagram: @rozecollection
SLICK CLOTHING
Born and bred in the city of Cape Town in 2001, South Africa, Slick offers their customers “fabulous every-where clothing” with free shipping anywhere in South Africa. Slick centers their clothing focus around merchandise that is easy-wearing, smart-casual and can be worn by anyone, anywhere.
Slick’s wide range of garments is available at their online store as well as Zando. If you are the type who likes to get out and try on before buying then you’ll be glad to know that Slick is also offered in various stores across Cape Town and surrounds such as Beach House Home in Hermanus, Mash in Seapoint, and Wild Iris in Knysna. For the full list of store-based locations please visit the Slick website.
Slick has refined its collection to bring a curated wardrobe that is easy to wear and locally produced with pride taken in using superior quality fabrics with long-lasting colour and durability. Slick believes in fashion-conscious style, longevity, feminine zeal and prints that appeal!
Where: Various | Online
Website: slickclothing.co.za | Email: danielle@slickclothing.co.za / info@slickclothing.co.za |
Facebook: @Slickonline.co.za | Instagram: @slickcapetown