The Meerkat Pyjama Shirt is Thebe's re-interpretation of AZ Factory's Switchwear Pyjamas. It features large peeling cuffs and a vibrant print of one of South Africa's most intelligent and elegant animals, the meerkat. Franco-Algerian artist and AZ Factory Amigo Chafik Cheriet spontaneously hand-painted these animal prints alongside Alber in his last months at the studio. Alber gave him full creative freedom to create these designs, as inspired by the beauty and grace of the wild world. Having gone unused, the prints were re-discovered by Thebe during his exploration of the AZ Factory archive. What if Africa were the birthplace of couture? This was the central question for our collaborative product story with Thebe Magugu, INTERSECTION. As the birthplace of Alber and Thebe, Africa is a foundational starting point for both designers and holds key aspects of luxury, such as generational craft and storytelling as core elements of its culture. For this product story, Thebe juxtaposes nu-Africa aesthetics with the notable principles of couture: classic garments are reinvented in smart fabrics, bold prints and modern, versatile silhouettes to create new hybrid shapes, intended for all women. - Oversized fit - Animal print illustration by Chafik Cheriet - Breast pocket - Oversized cuffs - Button-down front closure featuring one AZ Face - Made with recycled polyester fabric About the Artist: Chafik Cheriet is a Paris-based Franco-Algerian artist, whose work portrays a tormented yet deeply lyrical world. His tender, falsely precious and violent drawings, occasionally sexual and unsettling, are mingled together as he initiates a candid exploration of his subconscious as freed from convention. IG: @chafikcheriet Website: chafikcheriet.com
