Weaving Wellness into Everyday Luxury

Mantua Silkwear is a locally made, slow-design wellness brand that crafts luxurious silk pieces with purpose. We spoke to founder Juandi Andrag, who shares insights on healing, colour, and what’s next for this soulful label.

INTERVIEWED BY Neyani Mphephu PHOTOS Supplied

There is something sacred about the way a piece from Mantua Silkwear wraps around the body. The draped silks feel more like soft armour than accessories. Founder Juandi Andrag creates vibrant, handcrafted textiles rooted in emotion and healing. At its core, Mantua is a mindful exploration of how fabric can nurture both body and soul through texture.

Your journey to founding Mantua began with a personal challenge. How did your health experiences shape your vision?

“My battle with autoimmune disease became my most profound teacher. When skin sensitivity emerged as a persistent symptom, I found myself in an unexpected conversation with fabric, discovering which materials honoured my body’s needs and which created further distress. This wasn’t merely about comfort; it was about healing.

After years navigating textiles that either soothed or aggravated, I recognised the absence of pieces that married genuine wellness properties with thoughtful design. This realisation crystallised Mantua’s purpose: creating garments that serve as both allies to physical wellbeing and expressions of aesthetic intention. Working with silk, silk-linen, and silk-cotton blends became the natural extension of this healing journey.”

How would you describe Mantua, and what are some of the core ideas or values that shape the brand?

“Mantua Silkwear has evolved into a slow wellness and lifestyle brand rather than a fashion brand in the competitive fast lane. We focus on local artisanal production with a core focus on the wellness of our manufacturing community, as well as the healing properties of silk used in our products. We believe that silk against the skin (the largest organ) can soothe the nervous system and thereby aid personal healing and wellness when combined in daily rituals; be it sleep, meditation or making a fresh cup of tea.”

The properties of silk seem central to your philosophy. What makes this material so extraordinary?

“Silk exists in a category entirely on its own. Beyond its immediately perceptible qualities – the distinctive hand, the luminous interaction with light – silk offers remarkable biological benefits. It’s naturally hypoallergenic, temperature-regulating, and exceptionally gentle against even the most sensitive skin.

The protein structure of natural silk fibres creates a uniquely beneficial microenvironment for the skin, our body’s largest and most exposed organ. Unlike synthetic textiles with their chemical burden, silk enhances hydration, supports barrier function, and minimises irritation. This is particularly significant for those with sensitivities but represents a form of preventative wellness for everyone. What fascinates me most is silk’s optical properties – its ability to simultaneously reflect and refract light, producing extraordinary colour, vibrancy and natural luminosity. This quality emerges from its distinctive molecular arrangement, often described as “triangular” or highly ordered. The result is fabric that not only feels soothing and invigorating but also visually elevates everyday moments.”

You’ve described Mantua as creating “ritual wear.” What does this concept encompass?

“Ritual wear represents a deliberate rejection of clothing as merely functional. Instead, it acknowledges dressing as a sacred daily practice, an opportunity to honour oneself through intentional choices.

Each Mantua piece is designed to transform ordinary moments into ceremonies of self-nurturing. Whether you’re moving through your workday wrapped in a silk scarf, lounging or meditating in a flowing kaftan, or entering sleep cradled in our forthcoming bespoke sleepwear, these aren’t simply garments. They’re invitations to presence – to feeling soothed, beautiful, and authentically expressed in your physical experience.”

Who finds resonance with the Mantua philosophy?

“The Mantua woman has transcended the exhausting cycle of trends and fast fashion. She’s arrived at a place of discernment, where investing in herself – her wellbeing, her authentic expression – takes precedence over consumption for its own sake.

She understands intuitively that luxury manifests not through excess but through intention. Getting dressed becomes an act of self-knowledge rather than merely meeting external expectations. She recognises that how she treats her physical body – including what she chooses to place against her skin – reflects a deeper philosophy about her place in the world.”

Your pieces are distinctively South African in their creation. How does this influence their character?

“Every Mantua design begins as a hand-painted artwork created here in South Africa, where the extraordinary natural light and landscape infuse our creative process. We’re committed to quality, sustainability, and intentional craftsmanship in every stage.

While we work closely with artisans who have historical expertise in silk production, our design voice remains uniquely South African. This creates pieces that carry both global craftsmanship standards and distinctive local artistic expression.”

What can we anticipate from Mantua’s evolution?

“We’re expanding our collection beyond our current range of scarves, kaftans, and dresses to include a bespoke sleepwear range. This development feels like a natural progression of our philosophy, extending our wellness approach into those crucial hours of restoration.

Each new piece we introduce maintains our core commitment: creating garments that serve as both wellness tools and artefacts of beauty. Our vision remains creating pieces so exquisite they transition effortlessly from intimate settings to public ones, silk that moves between worlds while maintaining its essential character.”

What guidance would you offer someone considering their first Mantua piece?

“Approach this as an investment in yourself and those you cherish. These aren’t merely additions to a wardrobe; they’re conscious choices about how you wish to experience your physical existence.

Each piece represents a commitment to treating yourself with genuine care and respect. They offer moments of colourful softness in a world that often prioritises hardness, and tangible investments in your skin health and overall wellbeing.”

What made you decide to design scarves in particular? What drew you to this specific item over other forms of clothing?

⁠“We started producing silk scarves almost 10 years ago. A silk scarf is one of the most sensual and tactile pieces of clothing, as traditionally it is in close contact with the skin on the neck, which is often thin and vulnerable. The scarf serves as protection against the elements like wind and sun, and also creates strong messaging by use of colour and symbol. A silk scarf is easy to buy online, no trying on needed – one size fits all! They make incredible gifts and are small and versatile to pack when travelling. One silk scarf can contain a multitude of colours which can be worn with many outfits in many different ways. It is one of the most versatile accessories out there.”

How has Mantua helped your journey with auto-immune challenges, and what do you hope people feel when they wear the pieces? 

⁠⁠“Many autoimmune diseases affect the skin directly or indirectly and create severe sensitivities which can result in hives, rashes and eczema. Synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, acrylic and polyamide all exacerbate these skin reactions, which make the skin sore and uncomfortable. Even hard linens and cottons can irritate the skin. Silk, on the other hand, is extremely soothing against the skin due to the protein content of the fabric. It is naturally hypoallergenic and regulates temperature on the skin. I sleep in silk sleepwear, on a silk pillowcase and with a silk sleep mask over my eyes. I hope people learn to appreciate the soothing properties of silk on skin. The pieces are not just functional, but beautiful too and can therefore be worn from day to night!”

Your work has a strong sculptural and emotional presence. Can you share more about your design process, from concept to final piece? What’s your favourite part of that journey? 

⁠⁠“As I mentioned before, I believe that colour tells stories. It allows us to express and explore feeling, memory, mood, emotion and intention. The design process starts with watercolour artworks, where the water and the paint or ink often take their own shape as the water flows and carries the pigment with it. The designs are born from my own dreams, memories and experiences and how I relate them to specific colours and shapes. The designs are then transferred onto 100% Mulberry silk and or silk fabric blends like silk/linen and sewn into silk scarves, silk pyjamas, kaftans and kimonos. My favourite part of the journey is definitely the conception and creation of designs, allowing the colours to lead me rather than the other way round.”

What’s next for Mantua, and how do you see the brand evolving in the future?

“⁠⁠Next up for Mantua is the launch of our exclusive printed silk pyjamas and silk velvet robe collection called Nocturne, later this year. I am hoping to establish the brand as a beautiful wellness space of its own and to collaborate on wellness events with the right partners. We also supply wholesale products like scarves, pillowcases and sleep masks to corporate clients and do customised scarves on request.” | mantua.co.za

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