Nompumelelo Marilyn Samambgwa

Category: Footwear

Competitions: Africa

TETHERED EARTH BY BU KALANGA Tethered Earth represents a bold, luxury footwear concept that seamlessly bridges technical innovation with radical local sustainability. Designed for the high-end artisan market, the main design which is structural ankle boot features a striking juxtaposition of deep, plain-paneled architectural lines of masterfully burnished Zimbabwean cowhide against a highly tactile texture of hand-knotted leather macramé. ​The lattice (3D) work is constructed from 3mm leather strips incorporating cowhide offcuts demonstrating exceptional manual dexterity and giving a modern, flexible definition to a heritage crafting technique. MATERIAL INNOVATION AND CIRCULAR SOURCING ​Elevating the design is a striking hybrid spindle heel, custom engineered from turned local walnut wood discs that gracefully taper into a contemporary fluted heel base piece. To ensure absolute environmental integrity, the wood is sourced exclusively as low impact byproducts from production thinnings from agroforestry and furniture manufacturing scrap. This zero-waste approach ensures no primary forests are impacted, transforming structural timber remnants into high-value luxury design. STRUCTURAL HYBRID To ensure perfect weight distribution and everyday durability, the stacked organic discs seamlessly taper down into an elegant, fluted base piece which the original heel silhouette runs through. This hybrid construction prevents splitting, protects the wood from direct ground impact, and provides a clean, modern finish where the heel meets the floor. THE CAPSULE The capsule collection stands to cater for a variety of footwear preferences. This is why I created different styles but still incorporating the main design feature and technique, macrame, throughout the collection. Designed for the global and quiet luxury market, Tethered Earth stands as a powerful testament to African-led manufacturing, proving that radical sustainability, structural innovation, and timeless craftsmanship can beautifully coexist.

Category: Footwear

Competitions: Africa

Amaluba/Maruva @4141. This creation is inspired by the adaptability of nature and my grandmother’s garden inventiveness. She frequently plants flowers and succulents in and on driftwood. My design features leather and wood. The shoe is mainly made out of leather and embellished with 3D flowers. To promote zero waste, the 3D blossoms is fashioned from leather offcuts. The shoe sole is a wedge made of light but strong enough to carry body weight wood. The wedge is embellished by the leather crafted flowers, to depict a garden inspired by plants in driftwood. Aside from the intentional aesthetic and design theme, the use of wood stems from improvisation and resourcefulness in an environment where shoe making materials are limited.

Category: Footwear

Competitions: Africa

This project was inspired by the history, craft and cultural heritage of Zimbabwe. It includes the: •Great Zimbabwe (house of stone) monument's chevron •legend of the Nyami Nyami which is a mystical creature that is believed to live at the bottom of the Zambezi River in the Kariba, prehistorically called Kariva, area of Zimbabwe and is also believed to be half snake with a half fish head. •The intricate and eye-catching basketry weaving of the BaTonga of Binga. The Binga basketry is a popular heirloom of interior design and treasured traditional gifts in Zimbabwe. The design marries the modern fashion pieces in form of a boot and the Zimbabwean history, cultural crafts and heritage. The back of the boot is an amalgamation of the history of the displaced BaTonga people to Binga from Kariba the home of the Nyami Nyami. Entwined in the artistic chevron is a weaving on the bottom back feeding into the heel, derived from the popular hand carved Nyami Nyami walking stick. The tussle hanging on the back zip is drawn from the reeds used to hang-position the baskets during weaving. The rest of the boot is intentionally plain to draw attention to the story narrated by the back design.