Fear and clothing: Slow fashion’s timeless appeal

Everything moves at the speed of tweet these days. As quickly as a story takes hold in the slipstream of the Internet, receives a million angry retweets, subtweets and comments, so it floats away on yesterday’s feed. Last week’s passionate indignation is now just a vague discomfiting memory. Yesterday’s news is really just that…MORE

The Craftswoman

Imagine a time where we all owned far
fewer clothes. Sound like a nightmare? Not
to Elizabeth Kading! With her clothing line,
five8ths, this designer wants to take us
back to an era where we valued quality and
fit over fast fashion. ‘I’m inspired by an era
where people bought fewer, nicer clothes
that they wore more often...

Redefining Classic Fashion: Elizabeth Kading on producing contemporary classic clothes,  Thanduxolo Buti

Can you tell me what inspires you as a designer? I am inspired by a different era where people bought fewer, nicer clothes that they wore more often--clothes that were carefully considered and that fit better. I use high quality materials and I make each item one at a time from scratch... MORE

Do Tell: Elizabeth Kading of five8ths

I’m walking along when I hear the rattle of a sewing machine. It’s light and faint, but you can still hear it distinctly emanating walking down the side street. Like a relic from the past.

The source of this delicate clatter is five8ths, a handmade design shop sitting in Maboneng District. It’s a cute little place, the sort of quaint business you might have found back in the 50’s, turning out old school ties and bespoke dress wear... MORE

Place of Light

When your shirt-maker is situated in the same neighbourhood as your business, you know you're at home. Such is the case for the artist William Kentridge, whose studio is in the Arts on Main building in Mabonng, or Jeppe, as it was once called.

His shirt-maker, Elizabeth Kading of five8ths, has a shop on Maverick Corner in Maboneng. Her ethos speaks of the culture of Mabonengers -- an inner-city tribe devoted to re-imagining discarded spaces to make way for, as Kading puts it, " a more stylish, less wasteful world"... MORE (start from page 28)

"A personal favourite had to be custom shirtmaker Five8ths, which, after cutting a unique paper pattern for you, creates the most incredible shirts and shirt dresses using exquisite fabrics such as cotton and linen blends from Japan."

Q&A: five8ths handmade clothing designer Elizabeth Kading, interviewed by Elizabeth Cline

Tell us about five8ths, your Baltimore-based clothing business. What inspired you to start up? 

I’ve had a passion for clothing and fashion design from a young age, but my path has also wandered through the worlds of art, sociology, costume design, and Montessori. MORE

Does the sound of beautifully tailored shirts make you dance in your boots? If yes, then you’ll be dancing all the way to five8ths. The store stocks custom shirts made in store from high-quality fabrics for both men and women. You can also shop for accessories, such as neckties, bowties and pocket squares, here too.

New reviews, features and all the best events in Joburg this week

Shopping             
Bespoke shirts at five8ths    

Named for the standard measurement once used for seam allowances on vintage home sewing patterns, Elizabeth Kading's five8ths in 44 Stanley is anti-fast fashion, bent on style and less wastefulness with every garment made using the finest fabrics and sewing techniques.

ELLE’s Sheena Bagshawe reports on Maverick Corner in Maboneng – an exciting new development with a diverse mix of eateries, nightlife, fashion and accessories.

The Vibe?

The retail space is comprised of a leafy outdoor courtyard where you can relax or order food in a pretty and laid-back setting. The corner continues Maboneng’s love affair with art and there’s a stunning mural by street artist Dal East along the Commissioner Street facade.

Five of the retail spaces at Maverick Corner are repurposed shipping containers and the shops are owner-operated, so customers can interact with the people behind the business. What’s more is almost all of the shops are studios too, so you get to see the goods being made while you browse and chat to the designers. MORE...