Made in Africa: Bantu Beach Wear



These lovely pieces are from swim line Bantu Wax by German/Ethiopian designer Yodit Eklund.

Bantu Wax is now available on Net-a-Porter.



Me being me..with my addiction to Ankara prints(fabric)..have stumbled across beachwear in the same Ankara designs..my God i went crazy...goes to show in Africa we have it al...

 I was like..How about fashionable continent, with great surf!

“The Bantu concept is one which recognizes that we as consumers have the ability to make a difference in Africa. However, Bantu does not ask you to buy an ugly t-shirt in which a fraction of the proceeds go to one cause or another. Bantu … gives (Africans) an opportunity to work hard and provide the world with something really, really hot.”

 Bantu which means “gateway” in Wolof (the native language of Senegal) would like the pleasure of introducing you to the gigantic landmass surrounded by several LARGE BODIES OF WATER that is Africa…

 Since the arrival of the first Europeans, the slave trade, the Berlin Conference, and the Scramble for Africa, Africa has been endlessly exploited for her natural resources, with no regard for her people. Today, Africa is still poor, people are still starving, and HIV/AIDs is still rampant. However, beyond the depressing images that captivate the media, Africa is blessed by a vibrant beach culture from Dakar to Zanzibar, and from Cape Town to Casablanca – 26 coastal nations and countless cities.

“Our mission at Bantu is to introduce and make accessible beach and resort wear, accessories and skincare products with an African influence to more of the world.”

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Bantu maintains a high degree of social responsibility, while satisfying customer needs. All production is done in-house, guaranteeing the ethical treatment of our employees...bantuwax is a label that produces fabulouse beach wear for a cause...yet again this is a classic example of how fashion can save the world..

Bantu is the brainchild of a lady called Yodit. She has the most fascinating background, her father is American and was an ambassador, her mother Ethiopian royalty, and she was born in Germany, educated in Cairo.

Yodit started a bathing suit line, Bantu. Bantu wants to reinvigorate Africa from the inside out by utilizing an all-African manufacturing process. “It is Bantu’s mission to support and grow the African economy while providing high-quality working standards, opportunities for growth, and a living wage to its workers,” says Yodit. “Hopefully consumers will begin demanding finished products from Africa, a place typically only considered for raw materials.” Because of Bantu’s investment in Africa, it has qualified for the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which allows the company to take advantage of tax breaks from the U.S. government.

Each colorful Bantu swimsuit in this year’s collection is entirely manufactured in Ethiopia, but in the future, Bantu may take its show on the road and produce collections and accessories in other African nations. Bantu’s swimsuit patterns are taken from the centuries-old West African textile industry that originated with the wax cloth in cities lsuch as Dakar, Senegal, Abidjan, and Cote d’Ivoire. The juxtaposition of colors and patterns reflects the weaver’s identity, character, and beliefs.

To get your very own Bantu bikini or full costume in South Africa visit one of these stores :

Available at:

Chica Loca

Lower Ground Floor

Cavendish

Cape Town

083 658 7441

Merchants On Long

Long Street

Cape Town

021 422 2828

Osiris

Waterfront

Cape Town

021 418 8513

The Grand Boadicea

Granger Bay

Waterfront

Cape Town

021 425 0164

Pumeza Mkhonza

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