VOLUME / FIVE
C o v e r p h o t o g ra p h b y
: Marnus Meyer
WHAT IS INSIDE... FLUFF TEAM
MANUELA GRAY
STREET STORE
BIO BY EMIL LIME &
SHE PUT THE
MORE PASSION THAN
ALEXANDRA NAGEL
NEEDLE ON IT
FASHION
RENAISSANCE TOWB
STUDIO MUTI
“NICE TO MEET YOU?!”
IT’S IN THEIR BONES BY NICK BRISTOW
BY DARIUS MEADON
DR FRANK
KASS
-N-FURTER
PHOTOGRAPHY
HE IS OUT OF
FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER
THIS WORLD
Th e v i e w s e x p re s s e d i n F L U F F a re t h o s e o f t h e w r i t e r s t h e m s e l v e s .
We are FLUFF. An unlikely pair who are not originally from the Mother City; we want to get to know the DNA that makes up this body we call home. We are not tr ying to make that paper promise called money; we are profiling Cape Town’s people and tr ying to cut that cliquey crap Cape Town has. Let’s get to know each other.
Emil Lime Founder & Creative Director / @thelimeline fluffmagazinesa@gmail.com
Alexandra Nagel Editor / @AlexandraNagel fluffmagazinesa@gmail.com
Marnus Meyer Official FLUFF photographer / @Marnus_Meyer m a r n u s m e y e r. t u m b l r. c o m
Claire Thomson Official FLUFF photographer / @claireshaped www.clairetography.com
Cindy Horton Hair & make-up (Sponsored by Dermalogica) / @cindyhorton_ www.cindyhorton.co.za
Darius Meadon Official FLUFF writer / @DariusMeadon
Nick Bristow Official FLUFF writer / @nick_bristow
Sam van Straaten We b g u y a n d o t h e r s t u f f www.samvanstraaten.com / @samvanstraaten
www.fluffmag.co.za @fluffmag_sa | #FLUFF
www.facebook.com/fluffmagazinesa
@fluffmag_sa
M A N U E L A G R AY
SHE PUT THE NEEDLE ON IT
The illustrated women, Wildfire’s Manuela is a proud mother and wife, who’s husband can never seem to get an appointment at the tattoo shop. Hangs out on Kloof Street quite a bit, as well as with Queen…you know, the band? Nothing special.
How many tattoos do you have? They all kind of form one (lifts up the side of her shirt and gestures)
Do you honestly like the sound a tattoo machine makes? I don’t hear it anymore.
What was the first tattoo you ever got? Osiris – Egyptian God of the Underworld.
Favourite craft beer? Don’t drink beer, rather whiskey and champagne.
What made you decide to get into tattooing? It was an accident really. I went on a surf trip to Portugal and caught it caught my eye from an art point of view. Tattooing is always a challenge; I don’t get bored. Are you from Cape Town? No, Johannesburg. What was it like opening Wildfire in 1994? People weren’t very open to it then, it was conservative times. We were art students opening a tattoo shop, our approach was different: No biker gangs, but simply pushing the boundaries of artwork. Do your parents also have crazy tattoos? No, my parents are conservative. I thought my mom would have; she’s a hippie at heart. What was going on tour with Queen like? Incredible. The calibre of the show; stage; lighting; no lip sinking. Just old school rockers.
Who are a few famous people that you have inked? Sports stars: Herschelle Gibbs, Dale Steyn, Jonty Rhodes, Ryan Botha; musicians: Queen, Prime Circle, Fokofpolisiekar. What type of music are you into? Loud! Rock is my favourite. I grew up on heavy thrash metal, opera, eclectic, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday Which social media network are you most active on? Instagram; I’m a visual person. If you could be something other than a tattoo artist, what would you rather be? An architect. It’s not as zen as tattooing, because you are putting your heat into something that is going to walk away. Can totally own a building. What is it like having a tattoo parlor, being a mom and a wife? I think I transcend a lot of norms; I’m a full-rounded person. Although, my husband can never get an appointment.
STREET STORE
MORE PASSION THAN FASHION
When homeless people start to recognise you out-and-about in Cape Town, you know you have a whole new kind of celebrity status altogether. Kayli and Max conceived a brainchild together, one that runs it’s own store, popping up in different corners of the earth, and which won’t make you pay its rent.
Did you have a personal
Are you both from Cape Town?
experience that prompted the
No, Kayli is from Durban.
creation of Street Store? It came from personal experiences,
What did it feel like to win so
seeing a lot of needy people like
many Lions at Canne?
when you walk to Spar in Greenpoint.
It was incredible, it hasn’t even really
We wanted to think of a way to use
sunk in. We were so excited after
the skills we learnt as a creative
winning the bronze, we hardly had
advertising team at M&C Saatchi
enough energy to celebrate the
Abel, to do something different.
following night when we won the gold.
It is an international initiative? It started with us and then we made it
What advice would you give to
open source – so anyone can apply
people wanting to do something
to host a Street Store online.
for their community? Don’t be frightened to just try.
Who came up with this idea, Max or Kayi?
Have any clothes been stolen
It was a collaborative idea.
from the stores? No. But sometimes we’re surprised
How do you know it is working?
by what people donate. Max once
We’ve had over 1 056 applications
said, “Wow, that’s a nice Chanel, why
and 26 stores have happened
would they give that away?”
globally, with many more in the pipeline.
What do you think about Cape Town being named the World
How do you get the money to print
Design Capital for 2014?
out the cardboard hangers the
Was great for the projects they
clothes are on?
showcased, but it was a bit bitty.
We get it through the agency. Other
Came and went just like that with
hosts have paid or been sponsored.
hardly any hype.
I’m
sitting at a long table, ice cold craft beer in hand as skinny guys and skinny girls in skinny jeans amble past me with plates full of vegetarian curries and antique books, squeezing past throngs of families young and old – their hands full with wine, burgers and cupcakes – while a reggae band plays in the corner. This may sound like a scene familiar to the trendsetters of the City Bowl or Woodstock market scene, but I’m in neither the City Bowl nor Woodstock, or Obs or Constantia or Noordhoek. I, friends, am in Muizenberg, reveling in the carnival atmosphere of Friday night at the Blue Bird Garage market. In the late 90s, Muizenberg was not a place you would readily visit, unless it was to surf at the world famous Surfer’s Corner. The place was filled with drug dealers, crime and condemned buildings. Then, something changed. Young couples, predominantly artisans and general creative types, started buying the old properties for ridiculously cheap prices, doing them up and opening businesses. One of those couples are Dylan and Kim Speer who own the Blue Bird Garage and have seen the market they
run change from hippies trying to hawk crystals and handmade Buddhas, to watchmakers, incredible bakers, pastry chefs, sushi chefs and clothing designers. OFyt advertising agency is run by four doyens of South African advertising who decided, when opening their own agency, to “zig when everyone else zagged” and turned down the opportunity to move to trendy Green Point or Bree Street in favour of Muizenberg, as CEO Gary Leih told me. They opened their shop in the old Muizenberg post office, a beautiful turn-of-the century building on the beachfront, where their creatives can pop out for a lunchtime surf or grab a bite at the Empire Café. Cooked in Africa Productions – run by celebrity chef and TV personality Justin Bonello – rents the space upstairs. There are fears that Muizenberg is perhaps losing its soul as businesses such as Primi Piatti move in and property prices rise – and there are plans to develop the beachfront even more – but as Kim says, the community can’t live on lentils alone and the developments bring in people from other communities who can only improve the area and take it back to the glory days of it’s past.
STUDIO MUTI
ITS IN THIER BONES
Found on top of the Book Lounge in town, Studio Muti is more than just an openplanned workshop with a couple of Apple Macs. Table tennis, a giant chalkboard, an & ornament and a cat named Winston who doesn’t like to be stroked are just a couple of elements that make up the home of these arty shamans. Meet Clint, MinÊ and Brad, the illustrious design Doctors of Studio Muti.
If you could be an icon, which would it be and why? Clint: Skull. Miné: Boxing glove Brad: Beer mug. Why Studio Muti? Clint: Many years back I had a clothing label called Muti, we decided to adopt the name when we started the studio. We liked it because it’s a South African word.
Are you guys witch doctors? Only after hours. Do people often call you Mine or Minnie because of the accented ‘e’ on your name? Miné: Yes, my real name is Susanna Jacomina Jonker; I just shortened it to Miné
Our faces like Mount Rushmore. Do you think people actually buy art on first Thursdays or do they just go for the free wine? Perhaps they don’t buy artwork on the night, but exposing people to art and getting them interested in it is the first step towards them buying it. What artwork of yours would you never sell? These Mingo Lamberti cushions, they’re limited edition and hard to get your hands on. Favourite ice-cream flavour? Miné: Cookies and cream. Brad: Caramel sea salt. Clint: Vanilla with the bits. If you could be an animated character, who would you be? Miné: The Little Mermaid. Clint: Rango. Brad: Yosemite Sam. Do friends say “mine, mine” to you like those sea gulls from Finding Nemo? Miné: Does come up a lot.
Would you describe your style as pop arty? We wouldn’t but you’re welcome to. I guess it’s popular culture art. Designed for any big names? Sure: Nike, British Airways, Smirnoff, Monocle, Elle, WIRED... If you were given the whole face of Table Mountain to cover with a design, what would it be?
Favourite word? Miné: Bletting. Clint: Nautilus Brad: Ongelooflik. If you had to write a biography, what would the title be? Throw the Bones. Favourite illustrator? Too many talented people out there to pick one. Are you from Cape Town? Brad: Eastern Cape; Miné: Pretoria; Clint: Durban
“Nice to meet you?!” - by Darius Meadon
We’ve all been there. You met this
I’ve recently started reflecting
guy a couple of times – lets call him
on over a decade of being a
Marc. You first met him at a mutual
Capetonian and thought I’d share
friend’s birthday drinks. Since then,
two important lessons I’ve learnt:
you’ve seen him around and hung
Don’t fuck people over and don’t
out with them a dozen times. You
fuck around. Let me explain:
might even have had DMCs whilst vomiting in a Fiction’s toilet cubicle and invited him over to your house for dress-up before MCQP. And one day you are out at, oh-Idon’t-know, say the Bastille festival and you spot them nibbling cheese at the next stall with one of your friends. You confidently walk over, start bombing everyone with hugs and air-kisses (“Isn’t Franschhoek just magical!”, someone shrieks). You turn in Marc’s direction, expecting a warm hello and you are greeted with an outstretched hand beckoning a handshake and the words: “Nice to meet you.” Nice to meet me?! “Are you fucking kidding me?”, you feel like hissing but the shock renders you incapable of any action, but shaking his hand and muttering preprogrammed pleasantries.
•D on’t fuck people over. No matter what industry or who you work with. Pay people what they are worth and pay them on time. Deliver quality work. Be punctual. Be professional. Managing your personal brand is even more important in a small city. • D on’t fuck around. Now you’ll never hear a slut-shaming word from my mouth (I’m liberal like that), but what I mean is, if you are going to be an adult and have sex with people then also be an adult and expectation manage them. You will bump into them at the Orange Street Woolworths and it needn’t be awkward.
DR FRANK-N-FURTER
HE IS OUT OF THIS WORLD
ro o s d re ss in g r’ e rt u -F -N r F ra n k S it ti n g in D ry , m a ebauche d f o s le h is ta in lo li st e n in g to n y o n e fa ll a e k a m c w o u ld ma a n d m u si li fe . A b ig e tr a e th th a t is th e d re a m rd e s in g th e h a d n fi , y ft b ig so b u t a ls o a ll y fl y ? � o p ig s re a d “ , e b to
om and
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d, a n in d e e n st q u e st io
Who is better at it, Janet or Brad? I can’t make up my mind, so I would say both at the same time. How do you make that weird humming vibration noise that comes from your mouth? My lips have a life of their own. Where did you get your doctorate? Online. How did your relationship with Columbia begin? A drunken night in the lab. What is your spirit animal? Maine coon cat How tall are you? Over 2m in heels and 1.9m without. Why is Cape Town better than Transylvania? Because of the Fugard Theatre. Do you believe pigs really can fly? In Frank’s world, anything is possible. How long does it take for you to get undressed? Depends who I am getting undressed for… Who is your celebrity crush? Channing Tatum. One word to describe yourself? Chameleon. If you had to choose one: Hot dog or taco? Hot dog.
Who exactly is Cathy Specific? My best friend. What is your real name? Brendan Donovan Frederick Van Rhyn. You are a very large man… You have no idea… We are surprised we never see you around town. Where do you hang out? In my apartment in Mouille Point. Have you always wanted to be in theatre? I always wanted to be a pediatrician. What did you study? I studied music for three years at Pretoria Technikon. What is your favourite scene in the show? Funny enough, not the sex scenes. It has to be the opening number with all the smoke and lights. Did you have to cast for the role or where you approached? I had to audition and go through every channel like everyone else until I was casted. What is your dream role? This one; it is undoubtedly the most sought after male role in the industry. Why are you not on Instagram? Meet me in real life, it’s much better.
K A S S - P H OT O G R A P H Y
HAIR TUG WARS
Photography & Retouch Kassandra de Araujo (www.kass-photography.com) Charne Joubert & Natasha Roge Full Circle Models Cape Town Hair & Makeup by Camilla Jรถnsson represented by Gloss Artist Management Cape Town (www.camillajonsson.com)
Cape Town based, Kassandra de Araujo studied at The Ruth Prowse School of Art and found her love for photography at an early age. Originally from Namibia, fluent in English and German. Kass takes pleasure in editing her own work.
“Seeing is not as easy as it looks.” – Ansel Adams
I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y S T U D I O M U T I