A Salute to the South: Li Edelkoort’s New Book

WORDS Lynette Botha PHOTOS Supplied

Li Edelkoort‘s new book is a vivid visual masterpiece that manages to do justice to the dynamism of the Southern Hemisphere’s creative talents.

Trend Forecaster, Creative Consultant, Publisher and all-around design aficionado Lidewij (Li) Edelkoort has long had a love for the southern hemisphere’s boundless creativity. Her talks were, for years, a highlight of Cape Town’s annual Design Indaba conference. In her latest book, Proud South, already in its second print run, Li – together with Lili Tedde and Mariola Lopez Mariño – celebrates the talent and diversity found in this part of the world, honing in on Latin America, Africa, and South and Southeast Asia. The creativity of each of these regions is brought to life through vivid and detailed imagery that captivates as it educates.

Li believes that, “A southern generation of creatives is standing up, expressing local craft, embracing regional materials, recognising ancestral practices and cherishing indigenous values… with a sense of urgency.” This is what she showcases with aplomb in Proud South.

With more than 400 pages of inspiring content, the golden-clad tome includes essays, photographic essays, profiles and previously unpublished work from an eclectic array of southern talent, including contributors such as Indian textile and craft activist Kavita Parmar, Mexican fashion artist Carla Fernández, Moroccan-born photographer Mous Lamrabat, Senegalese photographer Omar Victor Diop, and a host of South Africans – among them journalist Modupe Oloruntoba, creative consultant Neville Trickett, and local brands such as MaXhosa Africa and Skinny laMinx.

A true object of desire, Proud South is not only a reminder of our own homegrown brilliance but also an ode to southern fashion, photography, styling and art from both emerging and established talents we all should know more about.

Proud South is published by Lecturis, and available to order online for R1 700.

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