TRUE Africa

TRUE LOVES: crazy hats and nipple-loving gorillas by Crystal Birch

Crystal Birch is a milliner/stylist/all-out creative living and working in Jozi. Her latest project B@N@N@S is a hat collection. Have a look at her gorgeous lookbook. 

The collection is a range of ‘nine all-black pieces, with hand-crafted details sourced and assembled on the streets of Jozi’. It was inspired by ‘nipple-loving gorillas, girl scientists and other crazy geniuses.’

What’s not to love?!

I had a chance encounter with  Crystal when she was living in London a few years ago. I’ve been an avid follower of her work since and here she doesn’t disappoint. I’m picking up on a ‘Mad Alchemist’ from this lookbook. I love the beading, woven hats and Crystal’s classic pompom headband which pop out against a monochrome set, with scientific equipment strewn across the scenery.

If you want to see more of the Jozi creatives’ work (you really do!), have a look at therealcrystalbirch.com

You can follow her on Instagram @therealcrystalbirch

Photographer: Hanro Havenga
Milliner and Art Director: Crystal Birch
Hairstylist: Karen van Wyngaard
Make-up: Lyn Kennedy
Models: Fatima and Thando
Assistants: Lenny Doucha and Eljo Grobler