Fold Over Sling Bag ‘Phuthi’ Brown Leather

Description

This ‘Phuthi’ Fold Over Sling Bag in Brown Leather is made from a 100% South African Cow Leather and has a multicolour tribal design cotton weave on the back which folds over the front top half of the bag. Our Diesel Leather is buffed, coated in oil and then burned through an ironing press to achieve the effect. Once in use, the oil disperses into the hide, softening the leather from the inside out. This creates a 2 tone distress appearance with a soft velvet touch. The interior of this Sling Bag is lined with an original South African Shweshwe fabric for strength and style. This Xhosa Sling Bag is designed to limit theft and therefor has a durable metal zip and antique brass snap hook to secure all your personal belongings once folded. The fold over and lock design helps to prevent someone digging through your bag whilst unaware. There is also another smaller zip pocket at the back for smaller items. All NAVA Apparel bags are handmade by local South African craftswomen.

Artist Inspiration: The Phuthi Collection is designed for the brave, independent explorer who will survive the ages of time through his / her strength and determination. Traditional values should never be forgotten. Remember who you are and where you come from. The ebaPhuthi (Phuthi people) were among the first Bantu-speaking people to arrive in present-day Lesotho, where they came in contact and intermarried with the autochthon hunter-gatherer communities of southern Africa, commonly referred to as San. The Phuthi nation was formed in the early nineteenth century and consolidated under the leadership of their king, Murena Moorosi. Most ebaPhuthi live in rural areas in Quthing and Qacha’s Nek, the most marginalised and least developed districts of Lesotho. Boys are expected to herd livestock and girls to contribute to domestic work and childcare.

Shweshwe is a printed cotton fabric widely used for traditional South African clothing. Originally dyed indigo, the fabric is manufactured in a variety of colours and printing designs characterised by intricate geometric patterns. Due to its popularity, shweshwe has been described as the denim or tartan of South Africa. Shweshwe is traditionally used to make dresses, skirts, aprons and wraparound clothing. Shweshwe clothing is traditionally worn by newly married Xhosa women, known as makoti, and married Sotho women. Xhosa women have also incorporated the fabric into their traditional ochre-coloured blanket clothing. Aside from traditional wear, shweshwe is used in contemporary South African fashion design for women and men from all ethnic groups, as well as for making accessories and upholstery. It is also used in the United States as quilting fabric.