Let purple reign this summer
PAINT summer purple, Mzansi style – because, in case you did not know, the Pantone colour of the year for 2014 was a purple called radiant orchid.
Pantone is the international company that assists all types of designers, print and paint companies with colour wheels, charts, swatches and so forth, to make their lives easier.
Last year there was much publicity about emerald green being the Pantone colour of the year, but this year there was not much about purple being the choice for 2014: poor purple has been the shy, shrinking violet.
However, according to the designers at Da Gama in the Eastern Cape, purple is a wonderful, electric colour and symbolic of royalty and creativity. Colour analysts who advise on the correct colours to wear for your skin tone will tell you that purple is one of those hues that suit everyone – you simply have to choose the right shade for your skin.
It is possible to “Mzansify” purple by exploring the purple designs available in original shweshwe fabric, also known by its trademark, Three Cats.
“There are a number of stunning original shweshwe motifs on the market. Take your pick from dots, florals, circular and geometric designs. There is something to suit everyone,” a spokesman for Da Gama said.
“Wedding season is here, so imagine making a purple original shweshwe bed cover or having one made as a wedding gift. “
She warned customers to check on the reverse side of the fabric to ensure they were buying the real thing, not a fake. Genuine shweshwe, made only by Da Gama Textiles, has a stamp on the reverse side of the cloth with the Three Cats logo.
Original shweshwe costs about R49 per metre.