The Meerkat Caftan takes the traditional African garment and gives it an elevated modern feel with a ruffled neckline and snaps along the side seam, for versatile styling. It features a vibrant and expressive hand-drawn illustration 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. - Animal print illustration by Chafik Cheriet - Ruffled neckline - Gold-tone side seam snaps - Gold-tone zipper on left shoulder - Length: 120 cm 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
