Cape Town is one of the only cities in the world where you’ll find authentic African arts and crafts on sale next door to local and international high-end designer wear. Take some time out from sightseeing to explore the city’s eclectic stores and boutiques.
Owned by Kirsty Bannerman and Marian Park-Ross, Mungo and Jemima is a great place to pick up a fabulous dress or accessory piece from either the South African labels found in store or from the duo’s own brands, Coppelia and GOOD. Mungo and Jemima place quality and timeless fashion above fleeting trends, making it the go-to store for relaxed South African style.
The V&A Waterfront is the home of most leading international brands, and the best place for high-end shopping in Cape Town. But the Watershed, a short walk from the main shopping precinct, offers smaller-batch, local designer goods for sale. There you’ll find fashion, jewellery and art in a market-like atmosphere.
If your idea of an intriguing boutique is locally designed furniture and accessories, make a turn at Stable of Cape Town’s Loop Street. There, you’ll find more than 100 brands for sale, and it’s the perfect boutique to visit, whether you’re looking for an original gift or an iconic statement piece for your living room.
Set in an old Victorian building, this three-storey market offers shelf after shelf of arts and crafts, jewellery, ceramics, textiles, masks and leatherwork from all corners of Africa. If you’re interested in traditional African garments, the market’s resident seamstresses and tailors are on hand to sew something up for you in your chosen fabric. Bargaining in this market-like environment is welcome, and though it can feel a bit chaotic and disorganised at times, it’s possible to uncover a few hidden gems and good reminders of your trip.
The collaboration between designers Mareth van der Walt and Colleen Lesch began on a single wedding dress, and has since developed into a celebrated creative partnership creating vibrant clothing collections for women. They have a showroom in vibrant Woodstock, but also sell their goods direct to the public via their website.
