Durban Dots

PatternNation, a visual art platform and clothing label for humans who embrace colour and pattern globally has been creating in Durban for the last 6 months. Ran by Cydney Eva Pattern (based in Vancouver Canada) and Costa Besta (based in Durban South Africa) PatternNation had the opportunity to collaborate on a mural in one of Durban’s artist districts Station Drive through the support of Open Plan Studios. The pattern’s painted in the mural are based off of the shirt collection photographed in Durban Dots. PatternNation worked with local Durban CMT’s and used locally sourced fabric for this small run of one of a kind colourful unisex shirts. Cydney and Costa live painted the mural during Durban First Thursday in April inviting a group of artist friends to contribute to their patterns to the mural; Dylan Smith, Puls and Trent Sukdeo. Durban Dots was photographed and edited by the talented and upcoming Thobani K and modelled in by Cydney and Costa of PatternNation and Nipho Hurd and Yanga of Tinz Clothing. When asked about the collaborative shoot, his ideas and photographic style Thobani K said: “My ideas around the shoot were to embody a spirit of fun as the bold coloured shirts connoted a happy brand. The implementation of banana and Zulu sandals was aimed at contextualizing the shoot as a Durban story. The happy couples and group shots emphasized the love that exists, and a sense of companionship. Models behaved naturally without emulating poses foreign to their sense of self. The music played on set added a groovy atmosphere that inspired smiles and witty faces.” The coming together of colourful couples Cydney and Costa with Nipho and Yanga all part of the Durban PatternNation family added even more depth and community feel to this editorial shoot. As PatternNation sets off to Vancouver Canada for July we want to celebrate and honour all of the vibrant humans and creatives we have had the chance to work with while in Durban since January through this shoot. The limited run of Durban Dots genderless shirts and necklaces are available through PatternNation and all of Durban is welcome to come and take photos and hang out by our permanent Durban Dots mural on Station Drive. Keep it colourful!

Clothing and Jewelry: PatternNation @pattern.nation www.pattern-nation.com

Mural: PatternNation @pattern.nation

Painters: Cydney Eva @cydeva Costa Besta @costabesta Dylan Smith @the_creative_yeti, Puls, and Trent Sukdeo

Photography and Editing: Thobani K @thezoolooreigns www.thobanik.gallery/

Models: Cydney Eva Pattern @cydeva, Costa Besta @costabesta, Nipho Hurd @nipho_hurd, Yanga @tinz_clothing

Paint and wall space for mural provided by: Open Plan Studio @openplanstudio