INSIDE MY... CUPBOARD OF HOME-GROWN THREADS

FASHION FANATIC SUMENDRA CHETTY

TELLS US MORE ABOUT HER PASSION FOR LOCALLY MADE CLOTHING

WORDS JO BUITENDACH PHOTOGRAPHY ALEX MCKAY many of the designers have become close friends. Lukhanyo Mdingi is an exceptional talent, Nyambo MasaMara is just growing from strength to strength and Sindiso Khumalo creates the dreamiest dresses,” she says.

And Sumendra’s dream outfit? “An Imane Ayissi evening dress from his Couture AW 21/22 Collection in a silk Mikado, hand beaded by Fondation Jean-Félicien Gacha in Cameroon. I would actually wear this every day if I could,” she gushes.

But don’t fret if the thought of wearing local is overwhelming – Sumendra can offer some great pointers to narrow down your search. She suggests popping into a few concept stores that ignite your passion for brands. “Merchants on Long is, of course, a must-see. Lots of brands in South Africa do produce locally, like Poetry, for example.” Alternatively, she suggests looking online at designers based in other African countries and supporting brands that are starting out by visiting markets like the Biscuit Mill in Cape Town. And while shopping locally can be pricier, Sumendra points out that “valuing what we have locally grows our economy –there are fundamental reasons for wearing locally made clothing and accessories. Like the saying goes: you vote with your money.” She adds, “People’s rights are a huge reason to support slow fashion, you have to think of the consequences when your T-shirt costs less than a takeaway coffee. What are the working conditions and the wages that people are tied to in fast fashion? I am happier knowing that fair labour practice is something we can be proud of. These pieces tell a story, they have soul and, most importantly, they will last far longer than an item from a fastfashion brand. The cost-per-wear means that the price goes a very long way.”

“My blue cardigan by MAXHOSA AFRICA is so special to me. It’s a classic piece from 2015 and has been along with me on many of my travels. It always gets so many compliments.”

“I am so in love with my shorts from LaurenceAirline, an Ivory Coast-based brand. They are classic and well-tailored and suit just about everything. They’re a staple for me.”

“My Brother Vellies leopard-print Congo sandals go perfectly with my Cape Town lifestyle. Brother Vellies founder Aurora James is an inspiration and her support of small businesses is noteworthy.”

“My gunmetal ostrich skin Aja from Okapi. They source all their leather from the food industry, which means it’s a zero-waste product. This piece has been used so many times.”

IT MIGHT NOT BE AS HIGHLY PLUGGED as those offered by some of its European counterparts, but Greece might be the last word in residence by investment schemes as the sun sets on the priceless Golden Visa. With Portugal shutting the door on its highly successful scheme, Greece is an enticing alternative as one of the most cost-effective Golden Visa programmes in Europe, opening the door to a second chance in the cradle of Western civilisation.

The biggest drawcard of the Golden Visa programme is not Greece’s ancient attractions, its glorious cuisine or those sandy beaches; it’s that applicants can be granted Greek permanent residency within less than six months after investing in property worth at least €250 000. At the current rand-euro exchange rate, that tallies to just under R5.2million, granting residency permit holders the right to live, work and study in the country.

A big drawcard of this is that as part of the Schengen Zone, Greek residents can travel visa-free throughout the 27 member states and can spend up to 90 days every 180 days in other Schengen states.

A Golden Visa provides both investors and their families with access to new markets and a host of business, career, educational, healthcare, tax and lifestyle opportunities for both present and future generations. Furthermore, many Golden Visa programmes allow the successful applicant to apply for citizenship after a few years of residence, such as the Portugal Golden Residence Permit Programme, which offers citizenship eligibility after five years, the Greece Golden Visa Programme after seven years and the Italy Residence by Investment Programme after 10 years.

Golden Visa legislation is currently in place in more than 100 countries, spanning five continents. Over 60 percent of EU member states have programmes that are functional and active, with the UK and the US having among the world’s longest-running Golden Visa programmes, says Henley & Partners, which promotes 35 such programmes.

With a relatively low barrier to entry, Greek Golden Visas are one of the last remaining options in Europe, as Portugal, Spain and other countries mull closing their doors for good on their programmes.

Even Greece is likely to become more sticky about these residency-by-investment programmes. From 1 May this year, Greek authorities reined in requirements by raising investment to €500 000 to make property more affordable to locals in Athens, Thessaloniki, and the islands of Mykonos and Santorini, but for now, the €250 000 threshold remains in place in other regions.

Now that Portugal is clamping down, Greece is most likely to benefit from the influx of foreign investment. International property, residency and citizen experts, Astons, believe this is likely to produce a greater interest in Greece. It said Greece not only saw the third-highest level of applications by US investors in 2021, but this level of activity was 740 percent higher than the previous year. It is currently one of the most popular schemes in Europe and one of the most affordable routes to European residency. Other countries, such as Cyprus and Malta, which require a $300 000 investment, are also likely to become more popular. However, Cyprus is not a member of the Schengen area and so a Cypriot residence permit does not allow for visa-free travel around Europe.

Immigration expert for Astons USA, Alena Lesina, said: “Spain’s decision to potentially close its doors to Golden Visa applicants is likely to spur a final wave of demand from those keen to invest before it’s too late, but, beyond this point, we expect Greece, Malta and Cyprus to become the frontrunners where Golden Visa demand is concerned.”

“All three options present a similar offering in terms of geography, lifestyle and climate, with the minimum investment requirement also remaining some of the most affordable of all Golden Visa offerings,” she adds. ■