
WORDS Lindi Brownell Meiring IMAGE courtesy of Design Indaba
The winner of 2020’s Most Beautiful Object in South Africa was announced on the final day of the Design Indaba Conference in Cape Town on 28 February.
This year’s accolade went to Izandla Zethu African Jewellery’s “Delicate Bracelet”. Nominated by artist and activist Blessing Ngobeni (featured here), the bracelet is hand-made from recycled corrugated iron.
“I like the fact that it’s made from corrugated iron sheet, a piece of material South Africans are very familiar with,” says Blessing. “The material got me thinking about the meaning of beauty, and how art should be honest and truthful. I like the fact that this piece has been handmade from recycled material. ‘Izandla Zethu’ means ‘our hands’ in isiXhosa, and the object inspires young people to open their eyes to existing opportunities in their immediate environment, and use their skills to help combat youth unemployment.”
Izandla Zethu, a non-profit community project based in Walmer in Port Elizabeth, prides itself on designing sustainable African jewellery and creating employment and skills development programmes for young people.
Follow @izandlazethu on Instagram to keep up to date with the brand’s work.