PatternNation at Circles Festival

We had such a great time at @circlesfestival recently! We sold our gear alongside @thisislocaltrash @gladiexist & @sleeplessmindz and got to bring the blobs to be enjoyed by the most amount of families they have ever seen! Thank you to @decolonialclothing @casey.desjarlais @dakotabearofficial & @cherchez for having us at this inspirational & empowering indigenous event! To see so many kids & adults playing in our #blobbooth was such a joy & massive gratitude to all the customers who shopped from us or one of the other local brands in our booth! And the top of the good vibes Circles fest provided beautiful west coast eats for everyone in attendance & an amazing all indigenous performance line up. We feel so grateful to be living and creating on Coast Salish land #everychildmatters

BLOB BASH Granville Promenade AUGUST 29th

Vibe with us this Sunday August 29th at the BLOB BASH at Street Area Helmcken (1000 Block Granville Street) @downtownvan on the Granville Promenade from 2-6pm COME THRU if your in so-called Vancouver, explore the BLOBS an interactive art installation by @cydeva, groove to @costabesta's DJ sets featuring South African Music & check out our guest dancers freestyle show cases.
The BLOB installation is available from 2-6pm and a fabulous line of performers and artists filling the street with creativity!

We are stoked on our guest dancers line up for this Sunday's Blob Bash who will have a Freestyle Showcase in the blobs during DJ @costabesta sets.

Set 1: 2:30-3:15 DJ Costa Besta with @elmestizoramirez & @cydeva

Set 2: 4-4:45 DJ Costa Besta with @sharon_lee8 & @brotha_jason

Set 3: 5:30-6:15 DJ Costabesta with @joshongcol & @brotha_jason

Come through and dance with us while exploring the BLOBS and take epic photos and video in the #blobbooth You can Find us on the 1000 Block of Granville Street at Helmcken Free Event for all Ages!

Colourworxx Fashion Film with FUUD London & West Carolina

This film was created as part of an art installation and photo shoot brought together by Cydney Eva, founder of PatternNation and Cath Carver, founder of Colour Your City and Editor-in-Chief of COLOURWORXX, in collaboration with local fashion designers Fuud and West Carolina. It took place at The Cause November 2019 in Tottenham, North London, with a focus on The Garage room - which had been designed by Antonis Papamichael with distinctive UV pink grids - inspired by gaming and CAD - as part of a spatial transformation project for Colour Your City. The space was further animated with floating sculptures known as Blobs made by PatternNation, creating a playful immersive installation. The art, fashion and dance collaboration brought together an amazing community of creatives, designers, models and performers. Exploring themes of movement, body positivity and spatial transformation through the design of the space, play with the blobs, bright neon colours and bold fashion. Embracing our body fully as a vessel for joy and creativity. Celebrating the fullness of potentiality, activated imagination, spatial fantasy, empowered self-expression, and infinite play with colour and form.

Filmmaker's/ Curators bio

PatternNation is a colourful clothing brand and creative platform currently based in Coquitlam so-called BC Canada, run by visual artist / fashion designer Cydney Eva - originally from Vancouver, Canada and musician / fashion designer Costa Besta - originally from Durban, South Africa. They create one-of-a-kind ungendered clothing all sewn themselves, curate, shoot and edit fashion editorial photoshoots and short films, murals, painted backdrops, Blob installations, music, DJ mixes, events, collaborations and more. 

COLOURWORXX is a new full-spectrum and multimedia exploration of colour with creatives around the world to share colour knowledge and city visions, enriching our experience of urban life. It’s a project from Colour Your City, created by Cath Carver, which is an interdisciplinary arts practice dedicated to using colour as a tool to transform urban space and bring communities together through spatial design, public art, creative placemaking, and chromatic and civic research. You can tune into the monthly Colourworxx netil radio show HERE

Team Credits

Clothing: Fuud @fuud.london PatternNation @pattern.nation West Carolina @_westcarolina

Models: Geni Lou @geni_lou Ana Carolina @iam_anacarolina Bx Sassy @bxsassy Curtis McDonald @motionhyrule Loops Harakoo @loops_harakoo Louise Halswell @stume_studio

Editor / Blob Sculptures / Model: Cydney Eva @cydeva

Curator / Model: Cath Colour Carver @colourcarver

Videographers: Guille Reverter @ihateplatypus Pilar Malo @blackfriedbeans_

Music: Deep Respect - Kratos @kratosofsparta

Location: The Cause @thecauselondon

Spatial design: Antonis Papamichael @iammulletman for Colour Your City @colour_your_city

COLOURWORXX @colourworxx

Heal Yourself with GLAD I EXIST Apparel

Heal Yourself and the rest will follow be colourful find peace and mellow. Our collaborative photoshoot "Heal Yourself" with the ever talented yogic artist @brianna.klassen of @gladiexist is all about self love, healing, self care, playfulness, rejuvenation and joy. Yoga, journaling, dress up, reading, friendship, and surrounding yourself nourishing colours are just some of the ways we bring balance and peace of mind to our lives. Heal Yourself, take time for yourself, get creative & play. This shoot collab with @gladiexist centers around gratitude for who we are no matter what body you are in. Pattern Nation designer Cydney Eva & Glad I Exist designer Brianna sport our rope necklaces and yoga ropes with Glad I Exist leggings. This photo series was as much fun as it looks. We wanted to highlight self care, stretching, strengthening, yoga, journaling, meditation and self love as elements creating colourful cosmic bliss in life.

Take a moment for you today, stretch it out, write it down, draw in a sketch book, do some yoga, read a book, go for a walk, wear a colourful outfit, connect with a friend or do whatever speaks to your needs.

Chomies with Flare @ the Colour Lab Rooftop

Shop the full collection at Blue Priest Afrotek Store 42 Palmer Road Muizenburg South Africa

Chomies with Flare is a fashion editorial and short fashion/dance film by creative platform and fashion label PatternNation showcasing a group of diverse and talented dancers, creatives and artists. The project was filmed at the Colour Lab Rooftop in Cape Town South Africa on April 18th 2021 the day Table Mountain burst into flames due to a forest fire that burned for days. With a soundtrack by PatternNation’s Costa Besta, the Chomies (a South African slang term for friends) walk a fierce runway wearing original PatternNation designs, accessories and Jewelry by Revamp expressing their individual flare. The film then transitions into contemporary dance freestyle showcasing four contemporary dancers Lucille Hendricks, Kyle Linde, Rafé Luke Green and Lisa Julie. PatternNation created this shoot with some of their closest chomies in Cape Town before relocating to Vancouver Canada. It was an opportunity to shoot at the exquisitely decorated Colour Lab Roof Top by Petra Vonk an exceptionally colourful artist making waves in Cape Town. Each model/dancer in this project embodies Pattern Nation’s ethos in their own unique way. Thank you to everyone involved in this shoot who made our time in Cape Town unforgettable, it was lit, literally!!

Kyle Linde @kylacox9 @iamkylelinde

Lucy Hendricks @lucillehendricks

Mel Bolton @influenced_by_life

Xtine Kapena @vitamine_c.k

Lady D BYTHELETTER @d_bytheletter

Rafé Luke Green @yvonneme__ 

Nellie Modimola @modimolanelissa

Amy Brown @q_amy_brown

Lisa Julie @lisavjulie

Team Credits: 

Clothing and Jewelry by: PatternNation @pattern.nation 

Jewelry by: Revamp @revamp_by_xoxoxtine

Location: ColourLab Rooftop @colourlabrooftopvenue Salt River Cape Town 

Videography: Allistaire Bart @allistairebart and Costa Besta @costabesta

Editing: Allistaire Bart 

Creative Direction: Kyle Linde @iamkylelinde and Cydney Eva @cydeva 

Original Music by; Mr.Shanengelele aka Costa Besta 

Models/Dancers: 

Kyle Linde @kylacox9

Cydney Eva @cydeva

Lucy Hendricks @lucillehendricks

Lady D BYTHELETTER @d_bytheletter

Amy Brown @q_amy_brown

Rafé Luke Green @yvonneme__ 

Nellie Modimola @modimolanelissa

Mel Bolton@influenced_by_life

Xtine Kapena @vitamine_c.k

Lisa Julie @lisavjulie

Unlabelled Mag Feature Afrorave with Toya Delazy

Read the Article published in Unlabelled Mag

Toya Delazy is a musician, artist and style icon originally from Kwazulu Natal South Africa and after living in South Africa’s biggest cities and making waves with her music is currently based in London UK. We at PatternNation were introduced to the legendary Toya through some of Cyd Eva’s friends in London and Costa Besta has long known of her music as they both came up in the Durban music scene around the same time. While Toya was visiting Cape Town this february we finally got to connect and after seeing the alignment in our art, style, fashion and music taste decided to make a photoshoot happen before Toya returned back to London. We teamed up with talented local photographer Courtney Rabbit and met up on the beach in Camps Bay to snap these PatternNation looks at an iconic Cape Town Location. PatternNation designers Cyd Eva and Costa Besta moved to Cape Town from Durban in 2020 to study fashion for a year at Cape Town College of Fashion Design and Toya’s looks in this shoot showcase our hand painted, sewn, embroidered and designed year end creations. Blown away by Toya’s Afro Rave movement and especially the costuming, track and dancing in her music video Funani, we are overjoyed to have Toya wearing our one of a kind designs styled with beadwork from Durban and Belize and her traditional Zulu headwear. We asked Toya some questions about her recent time in South Africa, Afro Rave and what she has in the works creatively. 

Being based in London, how do you stay connected to South Africa while still embracing the vibrancy of London town?

Social media is my main point of connection, Twitter, Facebook , Instagram is still connecting me with my fans across the world and continent and then friends and family. I also still work with producers and artists from home so I'm always on the pulse of what is happening around me.

How does being a queer South African artist inform your music and style?

Well my style is genuine. I use it as a form of expression, and I represent myself and experiences through my music.

Tell us about Afro Rave and what it means to you?

Afrorave is a African Alternative music genre created from a fusion of  left field bass /techno DrumnBass and vernacular rap - it's a space that hasn't been given the platform it deserves where our indigenous languages and culture are celebrated in rave. We often glorify American or european expressions in these genres and our own culture and identity takes the back seat - It's a fusion of where I have come from and where I am right now as a zulu girl living in a global space all these influences made me pour into this genre whilst being authentic to my experience.

How has your recent trip to South Africa inspired you? And how was your time in South Africa different this trip due to the Covid-19 Regulations?

I needed it. Europe was dry during the lockdowns, especially London, it felt like the merry go round had been switched off and the fun fair was over.  Since London runs in this very show fair manner without all the bustling and activity, it was all concrete. So I managed to fly back home just as the international lock down kicked in and all flights out of Britain to South Africa were cancelled . I arrived home to warm climate, I reconnected with nature and went home just to reconnect with my roots, we went to the Kruger national park and seeing the real kings of the jungle, I remembered my place, and as much as we were caught up in this pandemic the real world was still out here. I had to take a covid test before seeing my grandad. It was quite complicated, as this pandemic makes everyone susceptible to each other and I coming from England, which had recorded a new strain was under a lot of scrutiny ... I didn't even get to hug him, we just elbowed, but I was happy that at least I got to see him. When we got to Capetown it was ok to follow the restrictions I mean in South Africa even though there was alcohol restrictions we had friends with cellars so we didn't feel it too much, but the curfews did mean most friends had to dip just when the the vibes were getting nice. Each time President rhamaphosa spoke we held our breath hoping that he doesn't put a ban on international travel as that would have been really messy cause we needed to get back to our flat in London as we were still renting at the time. So we had real risks to think of , eventually we left a week earlier than planned because Britain introduced hotel quarantines which meant even if you have a house in london you would have to pay 1.7K pounds (approx 34K in Rand's) per person to stay in a hotel, so we called it and left and arrived in London a day before the quarantine began. Other than that, it was fire! My girl and I hiked a lot and really used the time to reconnect with nature and self , I even ran up the camps bay to hout bay basin rim... I had so much gratitude, I love home so much, my move to the U.K was to expand not escape. 

Your style and esthetic are often very colourful, how do you use colour to express yourself?

Colours are energy and frequency just like music and these frequencies are how we speak to the universe. Colour helps me balance my mood and energy just like a musical note and therefore style is therapeutic for me.

We at PatternNation love patterns and would love to know how Patterns inspire you and what cultural significance Patterns have in your life.

As a zulu I grew up surrounded by patterns that are symbolic of prestige power and send out a strong message. We are exposed to patterns from a young age in my culture, when a young girl comes of age there is an outfit and ceremony for it and when she becomes a young lady or when she marries. Another prominent instance is in the Zulu regiment regalia it is made from leopard skin, the leopard is a very sacred animal in Africa and you will find most Bantu tribes incorporate this pattern as a symbol of fierceness and power the leopard is the real king of the jungle not the lion. Zulus are very symbolic with their attires and colors; it's all part of our expression.

Do you have any new music coming out that we should know about?

Yes - I have been writing a Afrorave album during the lockdown. That's what I spent my time doing perfecting my sound and finding my voice my the first single will be out in May.

Thanks so much for these reflections, insights and for sharing your experiences of late Toya. It has been such a pleasure for PatternNation to collaborate with Toya and Courtney Rabbit on this dynamic and Afrorave inspired Fashion Editorial. You can find PatternNation clothing for sale in South Africa at Blue Priest Afrotek Store 42 Palmer road Muizenberg Western Cape. Toya Delazy’s music can be found on all major streaming platforms and music videos on Youtube, her instagram handle and website are in the team credits. Toya is an artist who inspires us to express ourselves, experiment with our creativity and claim our power, heritage and identity. We anticipate her Afro Rave Album and are honoured to have styled the legendary Toya Delazy. 

Team Credits: 

Model: Toya Delazy @toyadelazy Toya Delazy Official Website

Clothing by PatternNation @pattern.nation PatternNation (pattern-nation.com)

Tunic designed by @costabesta 

Overalls designed by @cydeva

Yearend Designs from CTCFD @ctcfd 

Photographer and editing Courtney Rabbit @courtney_rabbit 

Location: Camps Bay Cape Town South Africa 

Qwear Fashion Feature - Interview and Fashion Editorial with Delta The Leo

Read the Feature on Qwear Fashion

This March PatternNation met up with the ever talented South African musician, emcee and dancer Delta the Leo while she was visiting Cape Town from Johannesburg. After seeing Delta perform at Smoking Dragon Festival in 2019 we instantly fell in love with her music, dancing, vibe, style and energy. Since then we have all hoped to connect again and this march it finally  happened on an overcast sunday in Deer Park in Cape Town. PatternNation’s own Costa Besta took the photos and we teamed up with local Videographer Melissa Bolton to capture Delta mesmerizing dancing for the music video & fashion film for Delta’s latest track Kgae (Home) coming out soon. The vibes were felt by the whole team and the setting of the forest and mountains was rejeuvenating to say the least. We created all of the one of a kind looks with Delta in mind. In these looks we experimented with locally sourced prints and we (Cyd and Costa) sewed up all of the designs at our in-home studio in Cape Town. It was such a pleasure to collaborate with Delta the Leo who is full of energy, inspiration and style. To learn more about this ground breaking queer South African artist we asked her some questions about her music, inspirations and lifestyle. 

What was the motive behind coming to Cape Town and how was the trip for you

I’m a spiritual being,and I just felt a deep sense of coming to the ocean for calmness as my name means a state of tranquility. A sense of find a space that connect with the more spiritual sound that you can hear in the song that has 3 artists from africa Producer Vava and Ruben from Congo and Angola

What did you enjoy about collaborating with the Pattern Nation Duo? 

I enjoyed the professionalism, their attention to detail as well as sharing their designs while keeping in mind my fashion sense.The duo is talented and very welcoming, my first visit I was offered a meal in these trying times it's hard to find people who break bread and even take the interest to help you on the journey. They are a rainbow and I wish to work with them on more projects to come. They boosted my confidence and belief in my craft, I felt really honoured. GOOD PEOPLE

Fitness and health are a big part of your life, how do you express that in your music and stay consistently Physically Fit. 

Anyone who knows me, knows I have lots of energy so it makes sense to use it hence I hit the gym, dance and also bring the same energy to performances as well as recording because the body needs to keep fit. A simple reference is my single #Physically fit, in these times its so important to take care of the body as it is the vehicle that gets us from point a - b.

How does being a queer south african artist shape your idenity? 

For me i’m living my truth how people perceive me is really none of my business, however I am proud and bold with raising the flag high in all I do because I’m a human being before any labels are sanctioned on me. I encourage people to authentically be who they are queer or not you need to love yourself.

Tell us about the Joburg music scene and what you love about being based there? 

Joburg has a lot of talent and in my years of having been in entertainment I’m meeting people constantly that remind me artistry is a never ending journey where you learn and grow as a person. It is very competitive so it’s important to know why you do what you do. I have passion for entertainment and that's why I'm learning and sharing, mentoring any aspiring artists who don't have the experience or have an idea of what it takes to be an artist. Joburg is very diverse there's a Tribe for everyone to be part of either to collaborate or to do business.

How has Covid-19 affected your creative process?

To be honest it has pushed me to create more I have been in the studio more than I have ever been before lock down. I'm on various digital platforms sharing the talents and performing live to get the work out to the masses. Covid has affected me financially because there's been no income or assistance since lock down.

How do you choose your looks for performances versus daily life?  And how does Colour influence your style? 

I love colour. I try to always express myself artistically through the clothes I wear. For performances I try to have custom made clothes so I stand out like the neon colours and banana outfit you saw me rock at Smoking dragon. My fashion sense is gender fluid if it looks good i will rock it.

Tell us about your inspiration for the track kGae we used in our collaborative shoot? When is it coming out? 

The inspiration behind kGae was covid, most people had to go back home because of loss of jobs, some have lost their parents and also it felt like I had to remind young people the ederly need us as well as being aware of spirituality. I have known I have a gift to see and read from an early age. I just didn't know how to channel my voice. However now with more awakening this experience has given me strength as well as a better understanding of African rituals and ancestors. I PLAN TO DROP kGAE  on my birthday 31 July 2021

Do you have any other new music coming out that we should know about? 

Yes this is definitely going to be a busy year,  I just dropped a new single titled Jailer with an artist from Nigeria Superstar me. A remix of my dance single Physically Fit features  @Deceptikons,@NelzSA and @Deekay_did_it  who are killing the charts currently. A lot more is coming. 

Thank you so much Delta the Leo for collaborating with us at PatternNation, we love your message music and energy. It was such an honor to design these looks for the video shoot for Delta’s track kGae so stay tuned for the track and music video dropping July 2021. This editorial shoot was such a joy to create, the concept was all about connecting to one's authentic self through nature, style and movement. We hope the qwear fashion community will find inspiration in Delta the Leo’s artistry, she is on all major streaming sites and has some fantastic music videos out on youtube to check out. We also would love to work with Delta again one day as she really embodies our mission, to create unique colourful, ungendered comfortable fashion for the bold because individuality never goes out of style. If you want to see more PatternNation content check out our instagram @pattern.nation website www.pattern-nation.com or previous articles written by Cyd Eva on the Queer Fashion platform. 

Team Credits: 

Model/Dancer: Delta The Leo @delta_the_leo 

Clothing: PatternNation @pattern.nation 

Videographer: Melissa Bolton @influenced_by_life

Photographer: Costa Besta @costabesta 

Creative Direction: Cyd Eva @cydeva

Location: Deer Park Cape Town South Africa

Article written by Cydney Eva Pattern @cydeva 

Upcycling Collection by PatternNation + Collab Photoshoot with Alien Shit

PatternNation Designer Cydney Eva recently completed a Domestika course on upcycling clothing by Krizia Robustella. Although PatternNation has been upcycling for years now it was so much fun to get back into to the art form through this course and document our progress as we created this collection. Costa Besta and Cyd Eva developed 8 items inspired by their time together in #durban and #capetown with most of the clothing being upcycled sourced in the piles in downtown Durban.

Step 1: Photographing the original items, close ups of the patterns and selecting a colour palette.

Step 2: Creating a mood board of our inspiration images taken in Cape Town and Durban.

Step 3: Collaging cut out images of the original garments to imagine combinations for upcycling.

Step 4: Creating the collection of 8 garments in a cohesive collection

Step 5: Photoshoot! We partnered with @alienshitapparel4

Step 6: the PatternNation Upcycled collection and select Alien Shit Apparel is available for sale at @bluepriest_za 42 Palmer Road Muizenburg

Team Credits
Upcycled collection, camo pants and pom pom earrings: PatternNation @pattern.nation
Painted denim and clothing: Alien Shit Apparel @alienshitapparel4
Pattern pants and shorts: Blue Priest @bluepriest_za
Designers collective: The Priesthood @thepriesthood_cpt
Models:
Lady D @d_bytheletter
Amy Brown @q_amy_brown
Ruby Gold @rubygold_live
Masa Alien Shit @masa6lackacex444
Photographers:
Costa Besta @costabesta
Cydney Eva @cydeva
Location: Muizenburg Beach Western Cape South Africa

Interview with Just Kawz and Costa Besta about RETURN OF THE ZULU

Costa Besta rapper and musician from Durban currently based in Cape Town has a new track and music video out with Vancouver Canada based beat maker JustZawz. The music video is full of colourful trippy landscapes created, filmed and edited by the talented Justin Mcgee at Patrick Mcgee green screen studio in Durban South Africa featuring all original PatternNation clothing, Blobs and illustraions. Over a year since CostaBesta and Sound Taboo’s album Bantu Rhythm Rap dropped Costa is returning with this fire house track Return of the Zulu. Below is an interview with Just Kawz and Costa Besta by PatternNation’s Cydney Eva. 

What inspired the sound behind the track? 

Costa Besta: when I first heard the instrumental, I was chilling with Ryan (Just Kawz) and my brother in law Jeremy Paddon in the studio and I thought to myself ‘this sounds like the kind of house music i grew up listening to” called Mid Tempo House. As soon as I heard that, it hit home and so I asked Ryan if I could jump on it and he was down for a collaboration. The track is about me being at ease with myself and always evolving in my everyday experience. The title “The Return of the Zulu” came about because it was recorded in Vancouver Canada and Ryan (JustKawz) featured me, a South African Zulu artist all the way from KwaZulu Natal. Now I have returned with some heat.

Just Kawz: At the time I was really into the funk/mid tempo house sound. Whenever I get into the studio I try to experiment with all the gear in the room, no direction, just a lot of live jamming. This track came together so quickly and the soundscape fell into place so naturally. I showed Costa a couple beats and this one really stuck out to him, in a few minutes he was already writing and by the end of the session we had the whole track finished. 

What was it like to collaborate with each other?

Costa Besta: The collaboration was super natural, respect was mutual and we understood what we both wanted towards the project. Ryan was cool with whatever suggestions I came up with and vice versa. 

Just Kawz: Amazing, Costa is so talented and his delivery when we recorded felt effortless. I love working with artists that feel comfortable and confident so working together was smooth and exciting! 

Being from different places Vancouver and Durban on opposite sides of the globe do you think it added to the project? Do you think where you're from comes out in the music you make?

Costa Besta: Yes, My upbringing and knowledge is what fuels the energy and will to write about what i've experienced in my everyday life through positive lyricism. Sometimes I’d simply write songs because I feel like testing as many different Rhythms as I could come up with. The flow of the beat and the flow of my rhymes over the beat just makes me keep writing a whole lot more.

Just Kawz: Definitely, we all grow up listening to different music. The music that was shown to me early on shaped my ears. The palette has only become more diverse over the years and that's another thing that's so amazing when it comes to working with other artists from around the world. You’re exposed to new sounds, rhythms and musical structures that change your taste.

Where can we find your music online and are there any other projects you want readers to know about? 

CostaBesta: They will find all my music including the new single on all the music platforms (spotify, itunes, google play, tidal etc).

Please follow @CostaBesta on Facebook, Instagram

Just Kawz: My music is on all streaming platforms  (Spotify, Apple Music, Tibal, Google Play, Youtube etc)

Instagram: @Just.Kawz

My bandcamp page also has all my releases as well as some exclusive content/merch

Bandcamp: JustKawz

Credits 

Return of the Zulu

Beat produced by JustKawz @just.kawz (Vancouver Canada)

Rapper/ Performer: Costa Besta @costabesta (Cape Town South Africa)

Videography, Editing and Effects: Justin Sweat Face Mcgee @sweatface (Durban South Africa) 

Clothing, Illustrations and Blobs: PatternNation @patern.nation (Cydney Eva @cydeva and Costa Besta)

Dancers: Ratsholo Mahlatsi @the_mahlatsi_creations , Cydney Eva and Costa Besta 

Location: Patrick Mcgee Studios Durban South Africa

Article by Cydney Eva

Neon Splatter Collection

PatternNation Neon Splatter Collection is a Mini Collection of 6 Yellow and Orange upcycled vintage & original hand painted jackets & shirts. Available at Blue Priest in Muizenburg 42 Palmer Rd Cape Town South Africa.

Models: Cebo Nxumalo and Costa Besta

Photos: Cydney Eva, Cebo Nxumalo, & Costa Besta

PatternNation clothes: denim jacket, yellow wind breaker, yellow shirt, yellow vest/waistcoat, yellow mesh long sleeve, neon pink t-shirt. Blue Priest accessories: fanny pack and reversible cap.

Patterns of Self LIVE NOW on Sassy Shorts

Patterns of Self is a Vancouver Canada based editorial shoot that came out in 2018 illuminating both the sides of oneself; dark and light, black and white, masculine and feminine. The dichotomy of black and white was used in Patterns of Self through Pattern Nation's hand painted canvas garments and non binary model Helen Marley’s expressive portrayal of both the fem and masc sides of their being. This editorial looks at knowledge of self, love of self and understanding of self, these ideas are directly referenced in the image of Helen’s kiss with themselves. Creative direction Dosh Osholowu of Toronto member of Jungle3ribe brings his unique black and white esthetic into the mix and photographer Vaspaan Shroff from Mumbai specializes in surrealism, post production and animation. Makeup artist and Model team Lennox Campbell and Helen Marley often collaborate as they both play with concepts around gender and identity politics in their work, their ideas around perception of self directly informed Patterns of Self. All of these elements are brought together by PatternNation’s mural, painted canvas garments and black and white jewelry to create a truly surrealist effect. The short film has been screened at the 1 Minute Film Festival in Durban South Africa, as well as featured in Maze Mag and the film has recently been featured in the Sassy Shorts an online film festival based out of London UK. The Sassy Show is an independent multimedia platform, promoting female creatives in their professional careers. WATCH SASSY SHORTS and check out Patterns of self and another PatternNation collaborative film with COLOURWORXX dropping soon.

Painted Clothing, Mural and Jewelry: PatternNation’s Cydney Eva @pattern.nation @cydeva 

Creative Direction: Dosh Osholowu @adewolfy @jungle3ribe  www.doshosh.me 

Photographer:  Vaspaan Shroff http://www.portraitsbyvaspaanshroff.com/  @vaspaan95

Model: Helen Marley  @femanade

Makeup artist:  Lennox Campbell @bambambabi

THREE MAG + Blue Priest: The Bold the Brave and the Beautiful

PATTERN NATION IS SOLD AT BLUE PRIEST

Read the full article on THREE MAG

Fashion and style is all around us, and we as consumers get to make choices about what we believe in based on where we buy our clothing and what we choose to wear. Malls are packed with fast fashion, easy to shop and cost effective but is this the most conscious way to dress ourselves and spend our money? In a city like Cape Town full of local designers and creatives why not choose to invest in something locally made, contribute directly to someone’s livelihood and stand out with your unique wardrobe. We at PatternNation believe in this way of shopping and specialize in colourful one of a kind or small run ungendered streetwear and upcycled vintage. This is our passion and we love meeting other creatives who are down for the cause, this is why we love the brand BluePriest and have joined The Priesthood Collective of artists that sell clothing and accessories through their amazing shop in Muizenberg.  

After years of watching each other's brands grow when Costa Besta and I, Cyd Eva of PatternNation relocated to Cape Town from Durban earlier this year we were finally able to connect with this amazing collective of artists based in Muizenberg. The alignment between our brands is really exciting and we are honoured to have been welcomed into The Priesthood collective with open arms. Locally sourced materials, colourful prints and innovative designs made at their studio a block away from the shop, Bluepriest is a remarkable fashion label surrounded by a good vibes, diverse and inclusive community. When we brought our current collection to the Bluepreist shop we came with photographer, collaborator and friend Cebo Nxumalo to shoot some of the Bluepriest family styled in a combination of our two brands clothing. It was exciting to see how well our designs complimented each other and how we all believe in dressing to express in conscious colourful streetwear. And to partner this super fun photoshoot I asked Cyan Khoury, the lead visionary and designer behind BluePriest a few questions about the brand, her creative process and cause. 

Tell me about BluePriest, when was it founded and how you got into fashion design?

“Bluepriest started out as a brand selling t shirts and prints of girls and then being introduced to some fabric from Zambia and Original Vlisco from Ghana the first turn up shorts sample made around 2013 then moved to cpt and started building the store in 2015 selling prints and t shirts still and attending events and expos Started go hard on the clothing around 2017.. and slowly have been expanding our products..the name bluepriest is a play on my own name Cyan = blue and my Surname Khoury = Priest in Arabic”

How has the Priesthood collective formed and what is the vision behind connecting creatives?

“The formation of the priesthood was organic..once we opened our store the alignment with different brands started to happen and over the years we have attracted and reached out to more and more brands that resonated with us. Our ethos with brands we take on is local, affordable and original. We aim to create a platform that can expose and support local creatives.”

Nestled in downtown Muizenberg the BluePriest shop is an alternative fashion lover's dream, with new items coming in all the time from local creatives as well as BluePriest’s in-house brand. We all share a passion for colour in the community and I believe this is a core part of the cause. When you choose to step out of the box with your fashion, the possibilities are endless and once you start experimenting with print, pattern and colour there is no limit to the artistry you can bring into your styling and wardrobe. This way of dressing may not be for everyone and people with all tastes can shop locally and sustainably but if you're like us and love the bold BluePriest is worth the visit. Check out their shop at 42 Palmer Road in Muizenburg and on insta @bluepriest_za @bluepriest_afroteck_streetwear @thepriesthood_cpt  Individuality never goes out of style!

READ THE FULL ARTICLE ON THREE MAG

Team Credits: 

Written by Cydney Eva @cydeva

Photographer: Cebo Nxumalo @cebon.sa

Photography Assistant and editing: Costa Besta @costabesta 

Clothing: PatternNation @pattern.nation hoodies, buffs and painted denim jacket and waistcoat. 

Blue Priest @bluepriest_za @bluepriest_afroteck_streetwear masks, jumpsuits, pants, backpacks, fanny packs, hats, balaclavas, waistcoat, shirts and shorts. 

Models: Amazing Ace @amazing_ace7455 Tammy Vonwild @tammyvonwild Naledi Tlailane @naledzzz Masa Masande Mhluzi @masa6lackacex444 Vin @holybuyblejewelry Cyan Khoury @therealdirtystyle

Location: 42 Palmer Road Muizenberg Blue Priest Afroteck Streetwear Store @thepriesthood_cpt

www.pattern-nation.com

Reinvention: Cape Town Artist Kyle Lindie on Fashion as a Physical Language on QWEAR FASHION

Read the Full Article and interview on Qwear Fashion

On one rainy day in Newlands Forest Cape Town at the base of Devils Peak Mountain a team of creatives found themselves creating magic among the dripping leaves and cloudy sky. Led by model, artist and visionary Kyle Lindie, PatternNation Designers Costa Besta and myself Cydney Eva came together with photographer Allistaire Bart, Revamp crown designer and Ambitions make up to create this editorial shoot. After hiking up the mountain till we found the perfect spot  we shot two looks: nude with body paint styled with the Revamp crown in the trees and on the rocks in PatternNation’s fringe bib top and pom pom shorts made from pattern fabric sourced in Hawaii and trims. Like all of kyle's work it was a celebration of life, creativity and nature and I asked him some questions about his artistry, queer identity and fashion. 

How do you express yourself as an artist? 

To me an artist is someone who sees the beauty in everything, uncategorized. It’s a way of seeing. My source of expression is limitless. I strongly feel that one's artistry shouldn't be boxed in or limited. To me, real artistry is reinvention. My “chief” art form is dance but it's not my only form of expression. I also express myself (artistically) through fashion. Fashion does not use words. It is, in a way, “art incarnate”. It is a performance. I don’t use words as a dancer—I use movement and presence and this becomes a physical language. Fashion is physical language.

Team Credits: Expressionist: @iamkylelinde Photographer: @allistairebart  MUA: @ambitions_makeup Assistant: @tanya_anderson24 Designer: @pattern.nation Purple crown: @revamp_by_xoxoxtine Written by @cydeva

Living Suits - hand dyed creations by Costa Besta

Reversible Patchwork Jackets

Creative Creations during lock down

During our recent showcase at Essentially Obs co-op shop and gallery July 2020 we took some photos of our latest creative creations made during lock down with some of our friends Lynne and Ryan Swaine and Cebo Nxumalo. We have lived in Observatory Cape Town since Feb 2020 and we are loving this creative and bohemian neighborhood. Our live work studio is located just down the road from Essentially Obs where our recent showcase took place and we couldn’t be happier to be getting involved in our neighbourhood even with all the changes brought by Covid-19. It was a pleasure to be able to share our new work beacuse all this time at home because of the pandemic restrictions has given us the opportunity to try out new ideas and produce more clothing and art. In these photos you will see paintings and a back drop by Cydney Eva, Hand Dyed Living Suits designed and sewn by Costa Besta and Reversible Patchwork Jackets made and designed by Cydney Eva alongside items from our Personal Patterns collection and past collection that are still available.

It was so much fun to gather with some of our closest mates after so much time in isolation and even more exciting to capture this moment the first time PatternNation has showcased in Cape Town. All of our clothing is now sold at the amazingly colourful Blue Priest store in Muizenburg South Africa and online at IZULU with shipping South Africa wide.

Blue Priest Afro Teck Store 42 Palmer Road Muizenberg Cape Town WC

PatternNation at Essentially Obs in Cape Town South Africa

42 Trill Road Observatory Cape Town South Africa

PatternNation is now stocked at Essentially Obs Co-op Shop in Observatory Cape Town. We Have everything from full face masks to uncycled vintage and even art and home décor items avaible here that you can’t find online. PatternNation gear stocked at Essentially Obs is: Uncycled Denim, T-shirts, Hoodies, Masks, Paintings, Essential Oil Room Sprays, Painted Candles, Pom Pom Earrings, Scrunchies, and Jewelry Hanger Frames. You can also find a wide variety of locally made goods, fresh farm produce, fresh baked bread and plants at Essentially Obs. It’s a great days outing to go check out while South Africans adhere to so many lock down rules, the staff are amazing and you won’t be disappointed by the variety of art and local creativity. Every Saturday is their market day when they offer fresh baked goods and are open from 11-3pm.

Queer South African Artists Telling a Story Through Colour - QWEAR FASHION MAG

South Africa and especially Johannesburg is known internationally for the amazing street art, style and genre pushing artists. There is a move towards embracing colour within style and daily life in the culture of Joburg’s queer scene and we at Pattern Nation met up with some of the cities up and coming queer music and performance artists: Kieron Jina aka Afrohomo, Jesse Khoi aka Khoiboi, and Thoba Ndlovu. Pattern Nation is a creative platform and fashion house that celebrates colour and pattern, it is ran by interacial couple Cydney Eva (Vancouver Canada) and Costa Besta (Durban South Africa) and is currently based in Cape Town South Africa. We at Pattern Nation had the pleasure of collaborating with these dynamic and colourful artists while visiting Johannesburg in 2019. We partnered with artists and dancers Kieron Jina and Jesse Khoi to shoot in and around the amazing art installations at Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival 2019 at Constitution Hill. Styling PatternNation one of a kind ungendered clothing into 3 different looks we explored, played and created together. The next day we met with musician Thoba Ndluvo in the trendy arts district of Maboneng to shoot them in Pattern Nation clothing in front of murals and art installations in the area. Between the two shoots we looked at how colour is used in pop up installations at festivals and the more permanent public art around the city. We wanted to know more from these artists how they expressed themselves and how colour shapes that expression so we interviewed them for Qwear Fashion. You can find the full article and interview on their site www.qwearfashion.com