January 2021 – Cape Town Thing

January 27, 2021February 12, 2021

Lindt Chocolate Studio- Silo V&A

Cape Town has its very own Lindt Chocolate Studio in Victoria Alfred (V&A) Waterfront and it’s open for all to take their Lindt Chocolate Classes. It’s the first of its kind in South Africa so you won’t want to miss out on this special experience.

As we all know, Lindt dedicates themselves to crafting and mastering decadent premium chocolate that’ll leave you coming back for more. The Swiss chocolatier company has maintained the same high quality traditions since 1845. Yes, that’s a whole 176 years making chocolate. It’s no wonder they are considered one of the most prestigious chocolatiers in the world. They had a lot of practice.

The Lindt Chocolate Studio opens its doors to chocolate lovers worldwide to book a class at their Silo studios. Their classes give participants the behind the scenes experience of what it takes to make a great , decadent Lindt chocolate.

Expect to learn tips, tricks and secret facts involving the craft of chocolate making. You can also expect to have tons of fun as you get creative, ask plenty of questions and best of all enjoy your tasty creations.

The Lindt classes into 3 different categories offering Classic Classes, Kids Classes and Seasonal Classes. The Classic option offers you a choice between making delicious truffles, chocolate cupcakes, chocolate cakes, macaroons or Lindt Chocolate Fondant. Sounds like a chocolatey heaven to us!

The other categories offer a variety of options that will cater to kids or other seasonal options. And as if that wasn’t enough, they also offer virtual online classes. Participants are definitely spoilt for choice with the wide variety of classes suiting different preferences and budgets.

Costs: Classes range from R245- R895

You can also buy some of their ready made Lindt chocolate products ranging from R18- R125

When: They are open from 9am- 6pm daily

Make sure to book online and follow Covid regulations by wearing your mask and practicing social distancing. Trust us when we say it’s an experience that’s definitely worth having.

So bring your friends, family or a special someone and indulge yourself in this chocolate wonderland.

January 25, 2021January 25, 2021

Go Camping the Modern Way with AfriCamps Boutique Glamping

AfriCamps is the perfect space if you’re looking for an outdoors experience in the Western Cape. They offer an array of exciting activities for everyone, from the extreme nature lover to city lover who just wants a luxury getaway.

AfriCamps are located in some of the most breathtaking farms and estates in the country. As a guest you can unwind and get adventurous in the great outdoors, you’ll get to choose any activity from hiking, biking, booking a massage or staying in their beautiful boutique tents.

Africamps offer camping destinations nationwide. So if you’re not from the Western Cape you can definitely book a stay in one of their 11 glamping camps across South Africa. Glamping is just a form of camping that involves amenities and facilities more luxurious than your traditionally pitched tents.

They’re well known for their Instagramable hot tubs, canoeing in the dam, beautiful greenery all around, perfect picnic spots on hills and farm cattle ‘cause why not. The experience will definitely immerse you in vacation mode with family, friends or for a romantic getaway. Let’s face it, at this stage we can all use a getaway.

Western Cape hosts 6 Africamps: Africamps at Doolhof Wine Estate(Wellington), Stanford Hills Estate (Hermanus), at Pat Busch (Robertson), at Kam’bati River Resort (Swellendam), Oakhurst (Wilderness), Ingwe (Plettenberg Bay) and Klein Karoo (Oudtshoorn). Trust us when we say each estate and farm has something unique to offer you, so enjoy being spoilt for choice.

Stanford Hills Estate in Hermanus is closest to the Mother City and therefore considered the ‘local’ glamping site, and it’s as picturesque as it gets. Pamper yourself with their delicious local food and flavourful wine (we say hopefully!) at their boutique wine farm. Calling all Cape Town foodies, high and low looking to support fresh locally produced food! It has become one of the most loved attractions in the area. The glamping tents overlook a dam and Stanford Valley at the base of the Klein River Mountain.

January 9, 2021December 18, 2020

3 Vintage Boutique You Should Check Out In Cape Town

Vintage fashion has been part of cape town culture for a while now. We are an almond milk province with vegan baddies. We want to celebrate the vintage and second-hand store that: keeping our environmentally friendly fashion lover dripping in style.

Secondhand Rose

Secondhand Rose is a vintage ladies clothes shop which opened in Cape Town in 1971. Today they offer a treasure trove of contemporary and vintage clothing, costume jewellery, accessories and other desirable items. They stock smart casual and formal evening wear. Customers are often thrilled to find unusual and unique items as well as designer labels at bargain prices. You can find this store at:

Address: Cavendish Close, Warwick Street, Claremont, 7708, Cape Town

Grand Funk Retro Vintage

Grand Funk Retro is a retro vintage shop all about fashion, accessories and decor. Shopping at Grand Funk is an experience, upbeat music, a treasure trove of all sorts, old and new, weird & welcoming staff at your service. There’s never a dull moment, with their rails always jam-packed with a constant flow of new stock. When you visit their store you’ll not only walk out with some cool stuff but with a silly grin on your face.

Address: 240 -236 Long St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8000

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandfunk_retrovintage/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grandfunkretrovintage/?ref=page_internal

LINDSAY&LENNY | VINTAGE

Lindsay & Lenny is a trendy retro boutique. You can find the best festival-inspired trends in this vintage playground. With the friendly and helpful staff that will show you where all the gems are hidden. We love this vintage paradise because it’s extremely trendy and their pieces are style to fit the times. You can find them at Sea Point 365 Main Road, Cape Town. They specialise in unique fresh & funky vintage, second hand and new apparel for guys and girls

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsay_lenny_vintage/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lindsayandlenny/about/?ref=page_internal

There are many more vintage and retro second hand store in a cape town and each month we will blog about our favourites. If you have any favourite second hand/ vintage store, please comment on our Instagram page and we will post them. For more updates on fashion news, trend and content please follow on Instagram and Facebook.

January 8, 2021December 22, 2020

History of First Thursday

Making its first appearance in the Cape Town cultural scene in November 2012, First Thursdays has revolutionised the way arts and culture is consumed by Capetonians as well as those visiting the beautiful mother city.

The First Thursday concept is a forerunner in Cape Town events that offer a myriad of experiences all within a walkable distance. On the first Thursday of each month, you can expect to see thousands of people in attendance, ready to kick back and enjoy a complimentary glass of wine at the dozens of art exhibition galleries. Businesses that stay open, including retail stores, restaurants and bars, along with other attractions are also great options to explore.

Curated by Port Elizabeth born co-founders Gareth Pearson and Micheal Tymbros, the first Thursday experience is a repeated model from other cities they’ve travelled to around the world. However, this duo has managed to create a cultural monster in Cape Town, generating an audience from all parts of the world.

If you happen to be looking for a relaxed tour of central Cape Town with an eye for the creative arts and an appreciation of the urban landscape then First Thursdays is definitely the best place to start as it stretches out in exploration of the CBD from Wale Street to Strand Street, including the fashionable Bree Street.

January 7, 2021December 18, 2020

7th Day

‘The Seventh Day’ is the perfect way to end a relaxed Sunday. Guests get to enjoy diverse music such as hip hop, amapiano, RnB and gqom while sipping cocktails and mingling with friends with quality hubbly.

Curated by Greenback Media Group, the event boasts a host of activities from live performances to live DJ sets from some of Cape Town’s prominent acts. Among the acts to have graced the stage of 7th day include Spiroh, Verge, Martin Khan and the list goes on.

The event is held at the The Scary Canary, a laid-back bar and live music venue in the heart of Cape Town’s cosmopolitan Long Street district. One can enjoy drinks on the balcony overlooking Long Street while taking in views of Lion’s Head and the Cape Town CBD. There are usually regular live music events, drinks specials, pool table and a variety of bar games as well as big sports matches on the multiple big screens.

Guests get to enjoy diverse music such as hip hop, amapiano, RnB and gqom while indulging in quality hubbly and the speciality Braai meat prepared by some of Cape Town’s most capable and experienced braai masters. Tickets are 50 pre-sold and R80 at the door. Be sure to check out the next 7th day in February. Follow @The7thday on instagram for more details.

January 6, 2021December 18, 2020

Traditional Beer

Umqombothi: the original craft beer has been brewing in Africa for centuries. The recipe for this sorghum beer has been passed down from generation to generation, from mother to daughter. The traditional African beer takes a number of days to prepare. Once it has fermented and ready to drink, it has a creamy texture with a slightly sour aroma and taste.

Umqombothi is usually brewed following traditional Xhosa customs and is in most cases prepared over a fire outside the house. The recipe consists of a combination of maize meal, crushed corn malt, crushed sorghum malt, water and yeast. This isn’t your everyday handcrafted artisan beer found in most hipster bars in Cape Town. If you want a sip of this African delicacy you would need to travel all the way to Langa township, a small informal settlement located on the outskirts of central Cape Town.

The age-old maize-sorghum brew has been recreated and reimagined many times over the years. Try it for yourself at the Ukhamba’s bar at the Palm Centre in Woodstock. Their modern version of umqombothi includes malted barley, which is easier to brew with than sorghum malt and Belgian rather than wild yeast.

Traditional beer plays an important role in the traditional customs such as the homecoming of young men from initiation schools – Umgidi. It also plays a central role in traditional social gatherings, namely weddings, imbizos etc. Its alcoholic content is generally low but be careful as it does serve a little bit of a kick.

January 5, 2021December 18, 2020

Lutho SA

If you are into Gqom music, then you are definitely in the right place. The next DJ is definitely one to watch in this genre.

Born and raised from the township of Gugulethu in Cape Town, Lutho has found a passion for being a DJ and producer specializing in Gqom which he brags that it has become his mandate to turn the dancefloor on its head. His fans and peers refer to him as one of the leading Gqom DJ’s to break out of Cape Town.

“I offer an immense amount of presence when I play a set. People know it’s me when I play” Lutho said. The self-proclaimed “Gqom G.O.A.T’” is no stranger to stages that host some of South Africa’s chief talent, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Sho Madjozi, DJ Zinhle, DBN Gogo… and the list goes on!

The Gugulethu-bred DJ infuses his Kasi roots to his sets making him distinguishable from the crowd. His efforts in honing his craft are evident in the way he carries himself and the way he respects his work. “I’ve only been in the game for a few years. I started as a nobody and I worked my way up to where I am right now”, says Lutho. Well one can say that he is one to look out for.

Where can you find Lutho? He regularly DJ’s and events around the city but if you go to Cape Town CBD you might just find him here. What is he planning for after lockdown??

In the meantime, you can follow him on Instagram: @LuthoSA

January 4, 2021December 18, 2020

Gqom Music

Introducing the latest subgenre out of South Africa to get international attention: Gqom music. The distinct hard hitting drum and bass combo became popularised by Durban City’s taxi drivers blasting it on their way to the coolest parties in the city during the festive seasons. The headmasters of this eclectic genre include the likes of the queen of Gqom, Babes Wodumo, DJ Lag and RudeBoyz.

Dubbed as the house music of the new generation in South Africa, Gqom has managed to transcend both provincial and international borders and as with many good things, found a home in the mother city, Cape Town.

The impact of the internet cannot be ignored in the advent and subsequent promincane of gqom. From the days of collecting BBM pins and whatsapp numbers to share links to gqom music finding its way to Gqom making its way to international stages with the likes of Beyoncé as headlining acts.

Among some of the notable Gqom venues in cape town, Rands Cape Town positions itself as one of the hosts for the Gqom culture in the city. Rands is a party venue in Khayelitsha known for its exceptional shisa nyama, daily events and music. The co-founder of Rands, Mshayi Mbeki has been nominated for the SA Gqom awards under the category Best promotor.

Gqom has had a rather successful ride in the Cape Town scene. Under the care of acts like Lutho SA, Nhanie, Mshayi and others, we definitely foresee greater heights for Gqom music. Check out our previous blog about the South African genre called Amapiano. Are you familiar with any of these genres of music? Connect with us on our social media pages and find out more about the best locations to experience authentic Capetonian culture and music.

January 2, 2021December 18, 2020

Shoot Your Shot In Fashion in 2021

Are you a local fashion designer, brand or student? If you are, you might feel like the fashion industry in South Africa is impossible to break into. But don’t be deterred there are a bunch of opportunities out there that aren’t discussed in your classes or shared openly. Most of these opportunities are usually bared on google and can provide both capital and exposure for you, your brand and your professional career.

1.Allfashion sourcing Young Designer Competition

The allfashion sourcing Young Designer Competition offers young designers the opportunity to showcase their skills through their interpretation of a predetermined design brief. Young designers stand to win prizes valued more than R80 000, with the main prize being an all-expenses-paid opportunity to participate at Texworld Paris.

2.Scouting Menswear Competition

The Scouting Menswear Competition sets out to select the best of the best of young menswear design talent. It has raised the profile of emerging menswear designers, introduced them to media and buyers as well as supported them in breaking through into the retail market.

Website: https://www.safashionweek.co.za/safw-scouting-menswear-2020/

3.The New Talent Search

The New Talent Search is one of the most recognized talent identification initiatives in SA. This platform discovers, nurtures, and grows star talents, giving them the opportunity of a lifetime. Young designers have the opportunity to enter the retail market. In 2021 the winner will receive market opportunities and business support valued at R 45 500.

Website: https://www.safashionweek.co.za/safw-new-talent-search-2-copy-copy/

4.Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award (Just for students)

The Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award is a Gold Circle initiative that started over two decades ago. It is a pre-race day fashion competition open only to final year fashion students studying with accredited colleges or universities. They may only enter through their college or university and will be required to design and make a themed race day ensemble for judging purposes.

Website: https://vodacomdurbanjuly.co.za/fashion/young-designer-award/

Inscape Young Designers Award (Open to Grade 8-12 learners)

The Inscape Young Designers Award is built to educate schools and their learners on the extent of design and design education as a solution to careers of the future. The competition is open to all learners including those not typically aware of design as a solution to make a change and improve life. The Award is open to Grade 8-12 learners and includes a grand prize of R50 000 cash (R25 000 for the winner and R25 000 for their respective school).

Website: https://www.inscape.ac/young-designers-award/what-is-the-young-designers-award/

6.Trenery – Print Print Competition

Trenery invites emerging designers to design a unique and inspired print to be featured in our collections, with timing determined by our design team. The winner will also win a two-week course in ‘Print Patterns & Trends’ at the renowned Paris College of Arts valued at R80,000.

Website: https://trenerydesigncompetition.co.za/These are a couple of opportunities we’ve unveiled for you. If we’ve missed some please email us at info@capetownthing.co.za There are many opportunities out there and we are here to keep you informed. If you like this blog please read our other fashion blogs and follow us on Instagram to stay updated on the last fashion trends and news. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel for our fix in fashion series for all things South African Fashion related.