SA designer shines at All Blacks match

An Eastern Cape designer was over the moon last weekend when a New Zealand singer wore one of her designs during the All Blacks and Springbok game.

New Zealander Ainslie Allen, who sang the South African national anthem before the match on Saturday, wore a long, green and gold seshweshwe dress that has been designed and made by Komgha designer Ruth Hagemann.

"She was thrilled to wear something from South Africa and loved theseshweshwe cloth," Hagemann said.

"The thrill of seeing the burnt gold cloth beautifully tied about her head and the patterned grass-green and golden yellow-brown seshweshwe dress will remain one of the greatest highlights in my life."

Growing up on a farm, Hagemann said she had always been surrounded by Xhosa women, dressed in their fine seshweshwe dresses.

"I can remember smelling this delightful cloth, even before entering the store, and the charming patterns always caught my attention," Hagemann said.

She said it was six years ago when she started making her own seshweshwe clothes as interest grew from people around her.

Hagemann said she had seshweshwe clothing customers in Germany, the US, New Zealand, Australia, England, Italy and Holland.

She said seshweshwe now had crossed cultural divides, appealing to all cultures and ages.

"There is definitely a huge seshweshwe explosion, not only in Eastern Cape but in all our provinces."