Éditeur Plus - The Twentieth Issue

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ÉDITEUR

PLUS

É D I T E U R

T h e Tw e n t i e t h Issue

I am FASHION

P L U S

I am ART

Established in 2015, Throwaway Twenty is a suave, offbeat brand that is lighting

Meet the jack of all trades Maja Krstic. Maja comes from a formal Art & Fashion Design Academy. In

up the runway. The look for spring and summer is sleek and spunky.

the new issue, she gives us some insight ISSUE into 20 how she started.

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CONTENTS

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FOUNDERS LETTER Leeroy Esbend

IMAGE BY @STEPHENOBI.JPG

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BEA R ING FRUIT Chelsea Pitt

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CHICK.COSMETICS M adison Schidlowski

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IMAGE BY @STEPHENOBI.JPG

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T H R O WAWA Y T W E N T Y Bekiwe Hlongwame

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NOELL A COURSA R IS MUSUNK A B ekiwe Hlongwane

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E C O FA S H ION E DI T OR I A L

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OTIZ SELFO EDITOR I A L

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ALC MENSWEAR ALC

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A M A NA DA L A I R D CH ER RY A LC

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NOiR & KLรถHN

Human Photography

IMAGE BY @STEPHENOBI.JPG

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“M istakes are the p or tals of discover y.” - James J oyce

FOUNDERS’S LETTER FOLLOW YOUR PA SSION

Back-up, Back-up, Back-up. This is a lesson that I learnt while doing this issue. The Twentieth Issue of Éditeur Plus was suppose to be live in September 2018, but due to my PC crashing, I basically lost everything, hence the extremely late release. At the same time, I feel that it was good that most of my content and files got lost. During this time, I found myself looking for new ways to reinvent Éditeur Plus and make something more out of it. I would like to also take this time to thank everyone for their patience and support even though the issue was not yet released, it really means the world to me. A special shout out goes to Leon Haasbroek, Fashion Publicist. You have really encouraged me a lot and shown me so much support! Thank you! Xoxo

Leeroy Esbend < Mag’s Founder > _

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CONTRIBUTORS If you’d like to contribute to the next issue, send us an email at info@editeurplus.co.za

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NOiR & KLöHN

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Creative consultancy by Pieter Black & Alexandra Klohn.

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NOiR & KLöHN operate on an intercontinental scale. Linking hyperlocal brands on a integrative global level. Connecting designers and extended influencers with industry professionals. Orchestrating a collective drive that provides a collaborative platform of creatives that are equipped to further drive demand and brand visibility .

LJHPR 1 Decade in Fashion... #LJHPR With 10 years industry experience behind them, LJHPR have built their foundations in the industry alongside the likes of Star Model Management and BOSS Models South Africa, Soviet Denim and South African fashion superstar - JJ Schoeman. Being able to holistically take client campaigns from inception to culmination and manage a vast array of interdependent services from brand building to social media management, ambassadorship management, strategic communications and media relations with fluidity and professionalism is something that is vital to any brand, and LJHPR have fine-tuned this art to perfection.

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BEARING FRUIT What is ar t? Is it not the way we se e and an expression of what we fe el? A s Pablo Picasso puts it “ Ever y thing you c an imagine is real ,” doe s that not make ar t the tangible of an abstract element of realit y? The ex tension of the unsp oken , the felt but unexplore d?

by Chelsea Pitt <Writer at Éditeur Plus>

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“ It has always b e en a par t of me . It is not a choice. It is a gif t ,” she passionately exclaims when aske d why she pur sue d ar t .

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A jack of all trades Maja Krstic comes from

lifting of the medium used to create, such as

a formal Art and Fashion Design Academy

a brush, pencil, or pen. This use of expression

and has gone on to be a fashion designer, the

produces pieces that look distorted creating

Head of design, Creative director to an artist

a contemporary minimalist style that engages

and finally founder of a private fashion label.

the full potential of the expression of line and

“It has always been a part of me. It is not a

primal shapes.

choice. It is a gift,” she passionately exclaims when asked why she pursued art. Maja Krstic

“Two people sitting at a table, silently looking

navigates her reality through her craft and

at each other; it had something magical, I just

produces works that engage the surrealism

wanted to capture it,” Maja goes on to explain

of cubism and captures modernity with their

some of the imagery she finds inspiration

relevant titles. Fashion designer, creative

from. Maja tells us about her favourite works

director and artist Maja employs her creative

“About her “ and “ Everyone wants V “ which

skills all round and has been working in the

are both executed in her characteristic

fashion industry for over 10 years.

one line technique. She finds these pieces enhancing and an expression of the best

With freedom on the forefront of Maja’s

parts of her talent. Maja Krstic looks forward

outlook on life we can feel it in the strokes

to starting her own private label while doing

she places on her paper. A line comes first;

her art in combination with it. Enthusiastic

the structure of her work. Then the colour,

and excited for the future she leaves us with

her choices: hues that subtlety express and

the best advice she has even gotten “…love

pursue the common themes of connections,

yourself as you are.”

motherhood, love and organic movement. Finally, to round it up, the composition which asymmetrically balances out her collective

“Art is a fruit that grows in man, like a fruit on

works. Inspired by great artists such as

a plant, or a child in its mother’s womb.”

Jean Arp, Matisse, Picasso and Christianne

We are left with the words of artist Jean Arp.

Spangsberg Maja looks forward to one day

Explore the unexplored and water the plant

exhibiting in New York. The Amsterdam

that bears the fruit of art because like any

based artist employs the technique known

other fruit it needs water and sun.

as ‘one line’ for which she is most generally known. This technique uses one continuous unbroken line to create an image without the

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For more information and queries, Maja Krstic’s work can be found on Instagram @maja_artdiary and her website majakrstic.com

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SOUTH AFRICAN LEGENDS REUNITE IN AFRICA TO SHOOT ECO -FA SHIO N-EDITO RI A L NOIR AND KLÖHN PRODUCTIONS

Toya Delazy, UNICEF ambassador (Zulu Princess Latoya Buthelezi) known from her top charting track London Town hit number 3 on the London UK Club Chart from her latest album uncomodified earlier this year . Toya flew in to Africa recently to shoot an editorial with South African Fashion Model Pieter Black at the private Blue Footprint Eco Lodge in Mozambique, Africa that is 100% off the grid that set a beautiful ECO backdrop for editorial of Eco conscious label , Brand Who that Pieter Black walked for in Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Istanbul .

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CREDITS LOC ATION BLUE FOOTPRINT ECO LODGE

PHOTOGRAPHER ALEXANDRA KLOHN

MODELS PIETER BLACK & TOYA DELAZY

CLOTHING BRAND WHO

PRODUCTION NOIR & KLOHN

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UNICEF has joined forces with South African singer and songwriter Toya Delazy to produce a music video for her single Khula Khula (Grow Grow) from her new album Uncommodified. The aim is to raise awareness about the challenges girls in Africa face – such as violence, early marriage, exploitation, and harmful practices – all of which prevent girls from realizing their full potential and ability to participate in their communities. (https://www.cnbcafrica.com/apo/2017/12/07/unicef-and-toya-delazy-team-up-toempower-girls-in-africa/)Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Pieter Black has joined forces with Sustainable Fashion Matterz in Germany and Fashion Revolution ensuring ethical fashion is the way of the future and also planning to make strides at African fashion weeks for the seasons to come . Combining fashion ,music and like minded individuals such as the Altruistic Music legend Toya , Pieter and Alexandra to push brands towards more eco consciousness by supporting encouraging ethical trade and manufacturing and sustaining the environment.

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T H R O WAWAY TWENTY Establishe d in 2015 , T hrowaway Twent y is a suave, of f b eat brand that is lighting up the r unway. T he look for spr ing and summer is sle ek and spunk y. L et’s se e what the creative genius b ehind the brand had to s ay ab out himself, the brand and the colle ction . < Images by A ar t Verrips >

Tell us how you came to be a designer. My love for design and art directed me towards a path in graphic design where I nurtured a solid foundation in visual communication. I dabbled in fashion where I worked with a few local brands. However, not being able to create the way I wanted to lead me to take time off and travel with my best friend who is now my business partner. I told myself that I wouldn’t be involved with fashion again unless it was for my own label and a second time around Throwaway Twenty was born. What is your favourite part of being a fashion designer? Being able to create a story and a world that I love and that everyone can be part of and enjoy. I love beautiful things, so getting up in the morning knowing that my day is going to consist of creating beautiful clothes is a wonderful feeling. Do you work in a team? What are your team dynamics like? I do have an incredible team. Our family consists of me, Lana (my business partner & best friend) and

Sophia (our latest addition to the Throwaway Twenty team). We also have an incredible support system from our friends and family who truly believe in what we do. We work well together because we know what our strengths and weaknesses are. Lana trusts me as creative director to make the right choices in terms of aesthetics and storytelling so that my creative process is never interrupted. When it comes to our day to day dynamics, we always find a way to make each other laugh even when our days are demanding. We have a lot of fun together. Describe your creative process.

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After cementing the concept for a collection, I like to start by sketching and experimenting with different silhouettes and the pairing of various items that relate to the idea and feeling. After that, I go and find fabrics with colour, texture and patterns that resonate with me and that will work with the story. It’s a back and forth dances between concept and the physical materials that are available to me until they merge perfectly together.

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What materials do you use and why were they selected? I tend to gravitate towards certain fabrics because of the story or concept I am working on at that time. I like to use easy fabrics, but also bold prints for simple silhouettes. I also enjoy using plush, luxurious fabrics for casual garments. There is always a juxtaposition of luxury and comfort in my work. What is the inspiration behind your collections? The brand’s inspiration is about the boy I always wanted to be: Young, confident, wholesome and cool. With regard to the collections, I start

anything I do with a feeling. With our new summer collection, for example, I stumbled upon Oasis’ Don’t Look Back in Anger, a song which I hadn’t heard in so many years, and I was flooded with a wave of nostalgia. The Sunday drives with Mom & Dad, being carefree, swimming in the holidays and being truly happy. That’s what I portrayed in the collection: a colourful fun summer. The Winter range that I’m working on currently is inspired by the feeling I used to get when I was a teenager watching runway shows on television and flipping through all the high-end magazines wishing my life could look as slick as all the beautiful confident models. I imagine myself saying to all the bullies in high school “F*** off, I’m

amazing now!”. In terms of tangible inspiration, I get inspired by anything, leaves, flowers, fabric, food or even a picnic. I can look at the sky and come up with a collection in my head. But it doesn’t mean anything if there’s no feeling. I want the audience to feel what I feel when looking at the final outcome. What brands do you most admire and how do they influence your work? Dries Van Noten, Kenzo, Burberry, MSGM, Dsquared², Ami, Iceberg, Lanvin & Ermenegildo Zegna. What I enjoy about these brands is that their stories come across so clear & strong. There is a thread of classic elegance but also a touch of mischief without

being contrived. That’s how I see Throwaway Twenty, ‘Offbeat & Suave’. What keeps you motivated to create new designs? I love the challenge of raising the bar each season. It will do you a world of good to follow Throwaway Twenty on the following platforms or visit their local stockist, injuly in Linden, Johannesburg. WEBSITE: throwawaytwenty.com INSTAGRAM: @throwawaytwentyofficial FACEBOOK: @throwawaytwentyofficial VIMEO: vimeo.com/throwawaytwentyofficial

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BEAUTY REVIEW 29 É D I T E U R P L U S

CHICK .COSMETICS BY MADISON SCHIDLOWSKI

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UNICORN SHIMMER SCRUB R250 (200G) 2018 is the year of the Unicorn trend. From the high-end brands to the more affordable ones, everyone has tried setting a standard for what a Unicorn product should look like, and this scrub is on the top of my list! Your skin only needs 3 minutes alone time with the scrub to leave you with the best gold glowing shimmer. It’s the most ideal scrub because the shimmer residue is still noticeable after 17 hours and transferfree. Every girl will be obsessed with the luminous rainbow packaging, being travel-friendly and downright fascinating. The consistency reminds me of beach sand and treacle sugar that creates the best holiday must-have scrub!

30 É D I T E U R P L U S H I M A L AYA N PI N K S A LT S CR U B R220 (250G) I was instantly intrigued when I read Himalayan Pink Salt. The thought of using a scrub made of ingredients I normally use for cooking tempts all the more so. Diving straight into the negative; my only dislike is the fact that when using the scrub, the granules seep between my fingers, making it difficult to actually scrub. On the plus side, however, my skin is met with a heavenly smell of soapy goodness. It’s odd to imagine that the salt turns into a slippery-like consistency that leaves behind a silky smooth touch and glowing skin that is noticeable after one use.

31 THAT CHEEK THO HIGHLIGHTER PALE T TE R350 It feels like the entire world has jumped on the highlight wagon, and who can blame them? We’ve all heard the sayings, ‘the glow from within’, ‘the pregnancy glow’, or just the basic saying,

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‘That Cheek Tho’. The Chick team have created something

some thorough testing, I can easily see it becoming my go-to

P L U

highlight palette. It packs a punch in terms of a healthy glow

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truly blinding, a mega size four pan highlighter palette, that consists of four shades for the fair to dark skin tones. After

and has shades that are wearable for the face and body. My only criticism is that I wish the bottom right pink shade had less fallout and was more of a buttery consistency like the rest.

My f inal verdic t; I would highl y re commend tr ying out these ve gan and cr uelt y-fre e pro duc t s , that are not only af fordable but travel-fr iendl y.

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ABOUT

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Who are the creative beauty masterminds behind the CHICK. cosmetics brand? The brand was co-founded by Nomfundo Njibe and Stephen Cole. Neither of us hail from the traditional beauty industry (Nomfundo had left her job as a corporate trainer and Stephen, an ex-finance analyst had failed at a few internet start-ups). When was CHICK.cosmetics established and how did it start? Nomfundo: After losing my makeup bag inflight during a trip to London in April 2017, I ended up in Sephora and her life changed completely. I came back to South Africa wanting to create a platform to sell and review beauty products. I shared this with my future co-founder Stephen who developed and conceptualised the idea. We started as a makeup blog on

Instagram that resells international makeup products. We gained so much attention that one day we got a letter from a big brand to cease business because we were not authorised. This is when we saw the gap in the beauty industry here. The idea of our own beauty brand came out of frustration and increasing demand from past customers. We did our homework on products that people will be actually interested in, we met with the manufacturers who provided us with the substantial knowledge aside of products and packaging. We chose the name CHICK.cosmetics because we wanted to create a brand that any young beauty enthusiast could relate to in terms of our identity, our price range and our values. We launched on 1st June 2018, one month later than we had initially planned because of additional time spent on production and packaging.

What is your main goal with your makeup and body products? The world is going through a “woke” revolution and a lot of people are more conscious and enlightened about ingredients that go into products and sustainability. In the era of “fast beauty” we still want to innovate and develop cruelty-free and toxin-free products. Makeup and skincare can become quite addictive, and what an expensive addiction they are! Our goal is to offer the world’s best beauty products at transparent, low prices. Our strategy and positioning are based on data, experience and total commitment to deliver nothing short of excellence to our customers. We are currently a direct-to-consumer brand distributing solely through our online store and currently working on making our products accessible

We get a lot of inspiration from K-Beauty, most our skincare products are manufactured in Soko (South Korea). We are also definitely influenced by the work ethic of young breakthrough beauty brands like Glossier, Huda, Fenty Beauty and Kylie Cosmetics and skincare brands like The Ordinary, Frank Body and Herbivore Botanicals. We are so big on local talent when it comes to the art. There is so much undiscovered talent here. We think Kandy Kane makeup is killing it. Deone and Plumboy are just a few of the talented people we work with who inspire us and help push our brand. What are some of your own personal favourite products? Nomfundo: I love the Iconic London’s Prep+Set+Glow Spray, Juvia’s Zulu Eyeshadow Palette and Glossier lip gloss. My personal skincare favourites are the CHICK.body Unicorn Shimmer Scrub and Activated Charcoal Scrub.

to everyone. Perhaps our current challenge is that people are still not sure about buying online, or don’t trust brands they do not know. At this juncture, being only a couple months after our initial launch, we are really focusing on doing one or a couple of things well. Then, as we start to build on certain aspects of the brand and gain a solid reputation with respect to those aspects, we can expand as time goes on. Why the beauty industry? There is no better time to be in the beauty industry than now. Beauty is important especially for women; beauty builds confidence. Also, the way we consume products and content has changed over the years. It’s very interactive and fast paced right now. The beauty industry is constantly evolving to bring us new products, more Instagram-worthy packaging and

swoon-worthy innovations. There has also been a rise of independent brands which is a good thing. We feel a little dehumanised as consumers, so there’s something about independent brands, with a real founder that you can see and feel, who is standing up and taking responsibility for a brand. The internet is like a village and we crave that community. Also, the barrier to entry is much lower now than it used to be. Previously you had to have a lot of money to start something up, and it stopped women from getting into beauty as brand founders. If it wasn’t for the internet we don’t think we would have had the courage to do this.

Stephen: My current favourite is the Clarins Double Serum with turmeric. It feels so good and it keeps my face young. I always travel with my L’Oreal Mens Pure and Matte Moisturizing Gel and I swear by E-45 body creme. CHICK.cosmetics is a brand that is really changing the landscape of the South African cosmetics industry. Follow them on the platforms shown below, and when you buy a palette or body scrub, don’t forget to leave a rating.

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Instagram - @chick.cosmetics_ Twitter - @chickcosmetics Facebook – Chick Cosmetics South Africa Website- chickcosmetics.com

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CREDITS PHOTOGRAPHER: @ROGER_JARDINE ASSISTANT: @SINOTHOMSWELI MODEL: @CAPPUCCINOPAPPI FOR @ICE.MODELS_DURBAN FASHION DIRECTION: @BRENDANSTUCK ART DIRECTION: @ZWELISARA

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CREDITS PHOTOGRAPHY: @XAVIERVAHED DIGITAL ASSISTANT: @BETTIPAIGE LIGHTING ASSISTANT: @BRETTOZZZ ART DIRECTOR: @ZWELISARA FASHION DIRECTOR: @BRENDANSTUCK FASHION ASSISTANT: @KATEKANIMOREKU MUA: @MERLIN.HEADS OF @SOMA_SOUTHAFRICA

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MEDIA@EDITEURPLUS.CO. ZA

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IMAGE BY @JOU_HAAN_PHOTOGRAPHY STYLING BY LEEROY ESBEND GARMENTS BY EKTA MUA BY SANDY KASS

C ATA LY S T W O N D E R WOM AN – NOELL A COURSARIS MUSUNK A We at Éditeur Plus pr ide our selves on b eing more than just a fashion magazine. We inter view a var iet y of p e ople who we f ind inspirational through their passion and stir r ing stor ies .

Every now and again we have the honour of meeting people who are major catalysts for

or electricity and people having to survive on less than a dollar a day. The fate of this

change, impacting entire continents and having an influence that reaches the ends of the globe.

village and its people have changed thanks to Noella and a group of people who started by simply sponsoring a few girls with school fees and uniform.

Noella Coursaris Musunka is one such catalyst. Her humility would have her refer to herself as a mother of two with a dream. What we see is a model, speaker, brand ambassador and philanthropist, who took time out from changing the world to talk to us. Eleven years ago, the village of Kalebuka in the Democratic Republic of Congo was set to repeat the failures of the past as yet another African village with no clean water

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Even while making this contribution, Noella saw that there was a need for greater change in rural communities in her home country. ‘After some time, we decided we actually wanted to build a school from scratch.’ That was the start of a journey that has completely changed the trajectory of a small village in the centre of Africa, and potentially, others like it all over the world.

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IMAGE BY @JOU_HAAN_PHOTOGRAPHY STYLING BY LEEROY ESBEND GARMENTS BY EKTA MUA BY SANDY KASS SHOES BY BRANDS ONLINE

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S TA RT I N G T H E FO U N DAT I O N Noella was born in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo. Her father died when she was five and her mother didn’t have the means to raise her, so she was sent to live with family. Though she lived outside of the Congo, she never forgot her home country and its struggles. ‘It’s sad to think that in Lubumbashi, one of the main mining cities in the world, people live on under one dollar a day.’ This is one of the realities that stirred Noella to start something. What started as the sponsorship of young girls has grown into a ‘top-class school that will create the next leaders of the continent’. Malaika School was started in 2007 and provides the highest quality education to young girls aged 5 to 18 years. The girls are also given breakfast and lunch each day and all their needs, from uniform to books and other facilities are provided for them. ‘The girls at secondary school level at our school are on the same level as girls at school in New York.’ That is the quality of education needed to feed the vision of changing Africa for the better. The school has really changed the trajectory of these young women, and in fact, the whole village, which was unimaginable considering the difficulty of the environment. Now scholars at Malaika School have access to books and resources that were not even heard of before, and even afforded the opportunities to go abroad. What’s more, there are universities

willing to collaborate with the Foundation to ensure that girls who wish to further their studies are given an opportunity to do so. The school is run on funding from many sponsors, and on the generosity of volunteers to give their time and skills. Students are taught by local teachers with international teams offering support programmes. From the great work done by the local teachers, the sixth-grade students have passed National benchmark tests. The team of supporters and donors has been consistent through the years of the Foundation’s growth. Noella says it is rewarding to see every dollar that is raised goes into building something concrete like a well, or a classroom, or a sewing programme. ‘For every action, we see the result, so that is very motivating.’ Not only is Malaika school an example of how to bring about social change, it now runs completely on solar power, thus lowering its impact on the environment. ‘Malaika has created a village which can be duplicated all over the world. I think it important to give a different image of Africa. We are not beggars. We believe that empowering Africa is through education.’ It is remarkable to see an individual lead an organisation that is driven to see a change in a community. ‘It’s amazing to see the girls’ stories and see them growing, gaining

confidence and being healthy.’ That is what keeps the Foundation going, and that is what drives Noella to keep doing what she is doing. Noella is inspired by Nelson Mandela and Patrice Lumumba because they are ‘people who have sacrificed for others’. The work that the Malaika Foundation does is spurred on by seeing the work done by Nobel Prize winner, Denis Mukwege. Noella dreams to the girls in the school thriving and then being able to one day give back to their community in their own way.

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“ I didn’t have p arent s , but I want to be a go o d example, not just by posting pic tures . I want them to know that I am a doer.”

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When we asked Noella about her awards and all the celebrities she’s met, she very plainly told us that none of those things is important to her. ‘Awards are important to the donors,’ she says, ‘because they create credibility’, but she values the growth and progress of the girls far more than any accolades. Though Noella rubs shoulders with celebrities like Thandie Newton and Eve, she values their support much more than their status. Noella is quite an honest and transparent person. She spends her energy finding opportunities to grow the school and bring real change to the people of Kalebuka. Noella does not take the following from her fans lightly. She knows what it is to have no one to look up to, she understands the value of role models. ‘I didn’t have parents, but I want to be a good example, not just by posting pictures. I want them to know that I am a doer.’ She recognises social media as a powerful medium that can be used as a tool to influence others and gain support, but she also warns of its dangers. ‘Kids at school should not be on social media all the time. They need to build a future. Social media is not going to give them food. There has to be moderation.’

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IMAGE BY @JOU_HAAN_PHOTOGRAPHY STYLING BY LEEROY ESBEND GARMENTS BY EKTA MUA BY SANDY KASS SHOES BY BRANDS ONLINE

Not only does the school educate the

offers free classes in Literacy, Sewing, IT

young girls in the community, but it also provides a place of hope for the families who live there. The Foundation has built eight wells in the village which give people access to clean water. This, in turn, lowers the incidence of illness and allows young girls and women to use their time to learn and work.

and Agriculture, and provides inclusive sports activities for all.

Alongside the school, and thanks to generous funding from FIFA, the Kalebuka Football for Hope Centre offers over 5 000 people in the area, boys and girls, women and men the opportunity to come and learn skills. The community centre

In the near future, the Foundation will open an infirmary in memory of Miriam, so that no more children have to die due to lack of proper health care. Here is a woman who stands by what she believes in. Here is a woman who is using her powers for good. Here is a woman who takes every opportunity to hold a school up for others to see, and then allows them to be a part of the change she is bringing to the DRC.

Above all, Noella believes that being a mom is her most important job. Because of this, she is very choosy about the work she does and how much travelling she does, and she makes sure to take her son and daughter with her to the DRC at least once a year. This is a woman who learns as easily from a fellow CEO as she does from a mother in a sewing class in the village. Noella has grown to respect humility and personal relationship as much as she values the platforms she has on global stages. ‘They have nothing, and they are always smiling. I learn a lot from the people in Congo.’ It was an utter privilege to speak to Noella Coursaris Musunka. This ‘Wonder Woman’ who has shared stages with Bill Clinton and is an ambassador for global brands spoke to us with grace and poise.

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Leeroy Esbend Editor in Chief leeroy@editeurplus.co.za

Bekiwe Hlongwane Head Writer beki@editeurplus.co.za

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