Local South African design brand Ballo has just launched a range of hemp apparel, collaborating with local illustrator Si Maclennan to create original prints. The choice to use hemp was based on the material's superior eco-friendly properties and the strength of the fibres.
Founded in 2013 by Cape Town designer Alistair Barnes, Ballo has spent the last two years producing handmade wooden sunglasses with the occasional inclusion of caps and tees. Now the brand has launched a range that is closer than ever to their core principles: sustainability, functionality and durability.
Made in Cape Town using a fabric that is 55 per cent hemp and 45 per cent organic cotton, the t-shirts and vests feature original designs by illustrator Si Maclennan. The snapback caps are 100 per cent hemp with simple Ballo badges and hemp twine across the peak.
This artist collaboration is not a first for Ballo: last year the brand worked with Atang Tshikare of Zabalaza to produce a limited run of AEP frames – with Tshikare’s designs etched into the wood.
