Local collaborative textile design studio SMTNG GOOD has, together with artist and ceramicist Janet Lightbody, designed a new, blue version of the Endless Summer blanket and platter, exclusively for VISI.

This blue version of the Endless Summer blanket and ceramic platter is a new iteration of Janet Lightbody’s original yellow Endless Summer design, which was also translated into a blanket by SMTNG GOOD.

Made from 100% cotton sourced from local BCI-accredited farmers, the blanket is jacquard machine knitted and measures approximately 140cm x 180cm. Please note: Sizing may vary slightly for each style due to the nature of the yarn. Please allow for a 10cm tolerance.

SMTNG GOOD (Something Good Studio) is a collaborative textile design studio based in Johannesburg. The studio teams up with artists and designers to communicate positive messages through exclusive homeware and fashion textile pieces. Janet Lightbody creates hand-made ceramic pieces in her Cape Town studio. She is also the co-founder of ceramic tableware brand, Sencillo.

VISI Collab: SMTNG GOOD X Janet Lightbody Endless Summer Blanket & Platter

*This collab is no longer available

The ceramic platter, hand-made by Janet Lightbody, measures 40cm (L) x 32cm (W) x 5cm (D). Please note: due to the hand-made nature of the platter, sizing may vary slightly.

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Local collaborative textile design studio SMTNG GOOD has teamed up with Cape Town-based graphic designer and illustrator Ben Eagle, aka Ben Veitch, on a new blanket.

Known for his minimalist approach to art, Ben’s latest offering for SMTNG GOOD features a graphic shape inspired by “the never-ending search for balance and unity, while exploring the relationship between certain shapes,” says Ben. “This forms part of the same family as our “Duo” and “Donut” handwoven wall art collaboration.”

“I’m really intrigued by the relationship between form and colour,” adds Ben. “I like finding balance between the two. It may look super simple, but it’s not always easy making shapes work perfectly and elegantly together.”

The jacquard machine-knitted blankets, made from 100% cotton, feature a ribbed border, and measure roughly 140cm x 180cm, ideal for the end of a bed, for use on a couch or using on an outdoor picnic.

Each blanket is branded with a genuine leather, laser-engraved label, beautifully folded & tied with ribbon, and packaged with an A5 print of Ben Eagle’s artwork. The blankets retail at R3 800 each.

For more information and to shop online, visit somethinggoodstudio.com.

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Goodman Gallery, in collaboration with Something Good Studio, has created a series of ethically produced, limited-edition blankets in aid of Witkoppen Health and Welfare Clinic.

Over the past 12 years, Goodman Gallery, in collaboration with the artists it represents, has raised over £1.2m towards charity initiatives in South Africa. Its latest release, a collection of woven blankets, forms part of its three-year partnership with Witkoppen Health and Welfare Clinic: a facility that provides first-rate medical and welfare services to under-serviced populations in Johannesburg.

Handmade by Something Good Studio in South Africa and designed by the likes of Reza Farkhondeh & Ghada Amer, Adam Broomberg & Oliver Chanarin, Nolan Oswald Dennis and Samson Kambalu, these striking blankets each form part of an edition of 50 units available for sale at R9 640 each (£500).

To place your order, contact Kitsi Sebati and see more designs from Something Good Studio at somethinggoodstudio.com.

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A classic pattern and a classic weaving construction have been combined in a graphic and contemporary way through the use of scale and colour in Mungo‘s bold new blanket.

Its name is a play on the word “froufrou”, which describes ornamentation or the sound of rustling fabric. It is the first design from Mungo’s designer Lenore Schroeder under the tutelage of Mungo’s founder and Master Weaver Stuart Holding. Lenore delved into Mungo’s vast archives of historic patterns and designs, studying the checks of the classic Harris Tweed that was originally woven on the Hattersley looms that Mungo uses today.

Lenore was equally fascinated by the potential of waffle weave. “Even though the honeycomb weave is traditionally perceived as a construction used for bath towels I wanted to push the boundary a bit and introduce the weave into other products,” she says. The throw is woven with cotton grown in Southern Africa in nine different coloured yarns on a wide-width Dornier loom at the Mungo Mill in Plettenberg Bay. The pure cotton yarn ensures that it remains light and breathable – a chunky blanket built for winter, but also a quilt for the summer months.

“For me, the Vrou-Vrou is a piece of textile art that is functional. The interior trends at the moment are so focused on minimalism that I thought why not throw in a 3D construction fabric in amazing colours?” Experimenting with intersections of colour, increasing the scale of the well-known plaid check, and using the neat, pocket-like structure of the weave then became the building blocks for the Vrou-Vrou Throw.

It is available in two colourways: Magenta, which sees Petrol Blue, Wild Yam, Aubergine, Cerise and Pumpkin in the warp meet French Navy, Natural, Citronelle and Rust; and Tamarind, which artfully combines a warp of Pumpkin, Pebble, Cocoa, Wild Yam and Moon Silver with Beige, Natural, Mustard and Charcoal in the weft.

Of the colourways Lenore says, “When I was studying textile design in 2001, I was a poor student without access to the internet or design magazines, so I always got my inspiration for textiles in fine art and from artists like Friedensreich Hundertwasser and Wassily Kandinsky. Their use of colour and texture has always inspired me and I think it’s still the underlying influence in my approach to colour,” she explains.

“The thought process behind the Magenta colourway was to experiment with “throwing” colours across the warp and weft to see the beautiful outcome. For the Tamarind colourway, I got my inspiration from Maison et Objet in Paris in January. I noticed the introduction of warm ochre colours mixed with pumpkin and charcoal tones. I think the colour combination is well suited to the South African market.”

The hand-finished throws come in double, queen, king and super king sizes and start from R3 070. Shop them online on Mungo’s gorgeous site, then read about Mungo’s mill in Plettenberg Bay here. And while you’re waiting for your order to arrive, take a 360º tour of the mill here.

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Mungo’s latest colour palette, featuring five new colourways, is an ode to one of the brand’s most popular designs, the Juno Throw.

The new colour palette showcases the 100% cotton throw in charcoal, imperial (a purple hue), mustard, grey and French navy.

Featuring bold geometric designs, the Juno Throw, which is designed and woven at the Mungo Mill in Plettenberg Bay and is inspired by classic coverlet patterns, is perfect for the bedroom, lounge or cosying up while travelling.

The Juno Throw retails at R1 735 and is available in double-, queen- and king-size.

Shop online at mungo.co.za or visit the Mungo stores in Plettenberg Bay, Cape Town and Joburg.

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Los Angeles-based artist Lillian Martinez creates ceramics, as well as works on paper, canvas and linen. But it’s her beautiful blankets that caught Instagram’s attention – and we can see why.

Made under her label BFGF, which she says is inspired by comfort, beauty and humour, Lilian’s blankets are digitally woven from 100 % cotton.

Tropical Shadows regram from @bf__home :)

A post shared by (@bfgf) on Mar 29, 2017 at 1:59pm PDT

The best thing about these artistic tapestries, which for us are reminiscent of renowned French artist Henri Matisse’s later work, is that they don’t necessarily have to be used as throws – they can be hung up on the wall too. Lilian also makes scatter cushions in the same style.

Jungle Blanket regram from @sandy8212 :)

A post shared by (@bfgf) on Mar 27, 2017 at 10:07am PDT

To order, visit bfgf-shop.com. View more of Lilian’s work at lil-online.com and follow her on Instagram to keep up to date with her latest creations.

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Get your bedroom winter ready (especially for those lovely long lie-ins on chilly weekends) with any of these 10 winter warmers for your bedroom.

1. Animal Rug (70 x 200cm) R699.99, Mr Price Home

2. Jersey Knit Quilt (Double) R1 715, Biggie Best at Spree.co.za

3. Reversible Winter Duvet Cover R349 – R649, @home

4. Ore Blanket R2 499, Country Road

5. Siberian Goose Down Winter Duvet Inner (Queen) R5 999, Royal Comfort at Yuppiechef.com

6. Portable Gas Heater R2000, Delonghi at Dion Wired

7. Fur Cushion Cover R299, Superbalist.com

8. Electric Blanket (King) R849, AEG at Makro

9. Hot Water Bottle + Knitted Socks R249, @home

10. Knit Cuff Slipper Boots R399, Woolworths

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Married to your mohair? Wedded to your wool? Nadine Botha explores why a blanket is the perfect partner for winter.

Most of us had a favourite blanket as a child. And whether it was called Blanky or Banky or Pinky or Lovey, it was supernatural. In seconds it morphed from blanket to teddy bear to tent to picnic to superhero cape to comforter. Being tied to our mother’s back was sublime, sleeping without it was unimaginable, and as for warding off the giant big-nose monsters…

Security blankets are for many of us the first inanimate object with which we create a relationship and find comfort in. Like Linus and his blanky in the Peanuts comic strip, dependence on these comfort objects can either evoke empathy or scorn in others.

Psychologists, however, regard them as a positive part of key developmental stages. Termed a ‘transitional object’, the security blanket eases us into independence from our mothers, and are said to facilitate learning as well as helping children adapt to new situations.

Recent research has also revealed that adults who have kept some form of comfort object (not necessarily a blanket) are more independent and better at dealing with stress. In Japan, many adults have traded up from blankies to robotic pets, while in the UK it is estimated that about 35% of adults still sleep with a teddy bear.

The blanket as comfort object is timeless. Weighted blankets are used in psychiatric care to treat everything from anxiety and insomnia to autism, Asperger’s syndrome and ADHD. They provide deep pressure and are described as a ‘firm hug’.

Dutch trend forecaster Li Edelkoort writes in her latest book, Fetishism in Fashion (win one of five copies by entering here), ‘Most babies are given a safety blanket that is meant to be a partner and protector, a cuddle to be cherished. Some people will hold on to that first bit of cloth for the remainder of their lives and will be very distressed when losing the cherished object. Therefore this first encounter with fibre and weave is responsible for many of our future encounters with fabric. We will continue to search for the same softness, a similar colour, an equal weight.’

A blanket as fetish object? Well, there’s no denying that wrapping yourself in a good blanket is a sensual experience and that, especially as adults, we often choose our blankets with as much care as we do our partners. We do, after all, have to sleep with it.

What makes a good bedmate? Natural, manmade or blended? Cotton, wool, mohair, merino, polyester or nylon? What about allergies? Matted, woven, knitted, felted or fleeced? Will it get too hot? Handmade or machine produced? What about microfibre and, even, electric? With the range of options on the market today, you should be able to find whatever you desire. You can even find one with sleeves, called a ‘slanket’ – not that it’s advisable to leave the house wearing a sleeved blanket.

If you’re having a Linus day and can’t get by without your blanket, rather take your cue from Louis Vuitton. Developing the hipster oversized scarf trend to its supersized conclusion, swanky men and women were seen wearing blankets across their shoulders and around their necks during the European winter. However, with Louis Vuitton’s blanky going for US$1 260 (about R12 600), it’s not likely to take off here any time soon.

Mzansi is the original home of blanket fashion. Many African people use blankets as cultural identifiers. Checked Masai blankets are widely known, and Zulu and Xhosa people also make use of blankets during initiation ceremonies and other rituals. The Basotho people in Lesotho and the Free State wear their tribal blankets throughout the year.

Deeply embedded in the Basotho culture, blankets are differentiated through striking colours and motifs, which indicate special occasions and social status. Originally produced in Britain, the blankets are now produced locally based on the patterns and colours integrated by the Basotho. To this day, the blankets are still made of 90% wool and 10% cotton, making them fire and rain resistant. Shnu Tribal & Basotho Blankets produce beautiful heirloom blankets, with royalties going to the Basotho nation.

Breathing new life into traditional blankets is young fashion designer Thabo Makhetha. Born in Lesotho and now based in Port Elizabeth, she showed a striking range of clothes and accessories made from Basotho blankets at this year’s Design Indaba Expo.

Laduma Ngxokolo, who’s known for his Xhosa-themed Fair Isle knit jerseys, has also collaborated with mohair weaving company Hinterveld on a range of blankets inspired by African culture, from the corn blankets of the Sotho to the burnt orange blankets of the Xhosa and the colourful throws of the Ndebele.

Just a rectangular piece of cloth – that’s all a blanket entails. Native Americans leave a flaw in the weaving to let the soul out, while Nasa coats plastic with a metallic film to create space blankets that conserve body heat in emergencies. So simple, so versatile, so indispensable.

First published in iMagazine, the glossy lifestyle magazine of City Press. Subscribe here, we do!

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It’s time to hibernate and there’s a new breed of sofas that you can literally climb into and cocoon in.

In the 1990s, trends forecaster Faith Popcorn coined the term “cocooning” to describe the tendency for people to spend more time at home, socialising, working and shopping online. Fast forward to 2013 and you can literally turn your couch into a private cocoon where you rest and regenerate. Check out our favourites.

Autumn/Winter Blanket Chair

Polish fashion and interior designer Aga Brzostek was inspired by apparel, particularly knitted jumpers, and decided she wanted to make a couch that would give the same feeling of comfort on cold winter nights. She even took her cue from the fashion world’s seasons by naming her chair “Autumn/Winter”. The wool cover is removable and adjustable, and there’s a small pocket on the side, probably for her copy of VISI. conceptdesign.pl

Snug Chair

This chair, designed by Prague-based design label Kumeko, is built around a comfy pillowy centre, which is surrounded by a 100% wool-felt sleeve that’s been padded with soft tubes. It’s available in small, medium and large. kumeko.com

Moody Couch

The concept behind German designer Hanna Emelie Ernsting’s Moody Couch range is that you can shift and play with its high-quality cotton-wadding-lined upholstery to suit your mood, whether you want to nap, sit up straight or just relax with a companion. We recommend keeping crumbs far away from this one.hannaernsting.com

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