MUNKUS
Curator: https://www.instagram.com/ellavaughnjohnson/
Munkus is a colorful and contemporary upcoming brand based out of Southern Africa- built upon the principles of sustainability and the construction of timeless pieces that will last a lifetime. Thando Ntuli, the brand's founder uses an abundance of flashy primary colors and contrasting patterns, largely using her mother as a muse. Munkus presents the idea that timelessness and sustainability don't have to be boring.
For her collection “Isiskhathi”, Ntuli cites inspiration from Marshall McLuhan's coined phrase “the medium is the message”. In essence, it states that the medium that which art is conveyed changes the meaning of said art- this is incredibly relevant to all of Munkus’s work but especially so in “Isiskhathi”. Throughout the collection, the models’s vintage puffy hair and 80s eye makeup allude to the nostalgia of a bygone era. Fashion trends and styles constantly change, but Ntuli’s work reflects this by showcasing the more emotional relationship that clothes have in our lives. For Ntuli that is the 80s-90s style worn by her mother as she was growing up, hence the depiction of these details within her work, geometric brown and yellow patterns, pantsuits, and other vintage details stay littered throughout the collection.
“M’Zala” - one of Ntuli's more eye-catching looks is comprised of an asymmetric blazer layered over a tiered emerald green skirt embellished with microscopic black polka dots. The blazer is printed with various pink and orange comic-like designs, paired with green eye shadow and bubblegum pink heels. One of her signature design elements is Ntulis's ability to manipulate silhouettes demonstrated both in her collection Isiskhathi and in the brand's SS22 collection, “SISENDLELENI”.
“NNE”, captured by photographer Eunice Driver, is a disruptive and inimitable take on the trench coat by Ntuli. Ntuli crafts a floral print light gray trench coat which mysteriously dips behind the model around the waist into a bright green corset, the trench then wraps back around the model to once again become a floor-length coat, all paired with bright red gloves and work boots. Ntuli’s craftsmanship and skill as a tailor are evident throughout all of her work. As impressive as her innovative ideas and passion for sustainability is also her ability to conjure up fresh shapes and silhouettes in her work.
Ntuli’s work has well-earned itself features in multiple magazines including gracing the cover of Sowetan S Mag, additionally, Munkus has shown at South African Fashion Weekas well as Lagos Fashion Week.