Studio Sessions with Londiwe Ncube

This week on our tour of makers studios we visit Londiwe Ncube. Londiwe styled the first ever Made My Wardrobe sewing pattern shoot and her creative eye was key to bringing the MMW aesthetic to life. She now lives in Portugal and works as a creative director and stylist for brands such us Farfetch, I-D, Net-A-Porter, Dazed, V&A and gal-dem. We were sad to see her leave the UK, but so happy to see her and her online vintage store Atijo flourishing. This week I caught up with Londiwe to see how it’s all going.

Lydia: Hey Babe, I feel like there are so many sides to your work, can you tell the MMW community what do you do? 

Londi: I am one of the founders of Atijo, which is an online curated vintage store bringing a luxury conceptual approach to vintage. I am also a Stylist and Creative Director so I guess you could say I create moods and looks.

Lydia: Who or what most inspires you in your work? 

Londi: I was raised by a community of women in Zimbabwe who showed so much strength and resilience but they were always joyful, it’s driven me my whole life. I am always looking at vintage photos and the more culture I am exposed to the more inspired I am.

Lydia: If you were to work in another discipline what would you choose?

Londi: I honestly can’t imagine myself doing anything else but I love being creative in everything I do and that may not always be fashion but I will aways try to get paid to do something that brings me joy

Lydia: Introduce us to another maker whose work you love…

Londi: I’ll introduce you to 3- @anuodugbesan, @caitlin_moriarty and @safiya_yekwai - the other founders of atijọ and incredible stylists/creatives who truly inspire me and I’ve been able to build my creative dreams with! 

To see more work by Londi follow her @atijostore and @londisgoods

Lydia: What is your creative dream?

Londi: I would love to keep collaborating with all the women I admire and work on creative projects that can give back to communities I cherish. I love how much more conscious fashion is slowly becoming and it’s a great moment to be working in the industry during these times because we can all challenge ourselves and each other to do better. 

Lydia: What advice would you give to someone who is feeling unsure about how to follow their creative dreams?

Londi: Just make a start. The beautiful thing about creativity is there is no right and wrong and you will be surprised at how much more an idea progresses after its put down on paper. The only thing you will ever regret is not doing it!

Lydia: A favourite text/song/poem? 

Londi: I always go back to Lands which is a poetry book by the beautiful Jemima Khalli (@jemimakhalli_), it connects me to my ancestors and womanhood. I love anything Nina Simone