L’MAD is a South African brand that works with local artists and designers to create limited edition fashion items. I have wanted one of their stunning Ben Johnson for L’MAD scarves since I was first introduced to the brand just over a year ago. Founded by art curator, Lucy MacGarry, in 2012 L’MAD creates clothing and accessories that are the epitome of wearable art. The L’MAD pieces look as good framed, as they do a fashion item.

Over the years L’MAD has built a small global following. Elton John bought an entire range of scarves to incorporate into a collection for the Elton John Aids Foundation. Beautiful gift boxes including a L’MAD scarf were sent to celebrities and musicians such as Lady Gaga, Grace Jones and Rihanna to name a few. When Bruce Springsteen came out to South Africa, his entire entourage on the tour received a L’MAD scarf as a tour memento.

MARLENE STEYN

Image credit at the end of this post

L’MAD’s most recent collaboration is with exciting young artist, Marlene Steyn. Together they have produced a stunning limited edition silk scarf collection consisting of three scarves.

Marlene Steyn is a South African visual artist who debuted with a solo exhibition, How Cannibals Cuddle, in London in 2014. By 2017, she was already featured in one of Phaidon’s influential Vitamin coffee table series, Vitamin C: Clay + Ceramic. This book is described as “a global survey of 100 of today’s most important clay and ceramic artists, chosen by leading art world professionals.” Steyn is the only African artist profiled.

Born in Stellenbosch and currently living and working in Cape Town, Steyn completed a BFA at Stellenbosch University, graduating in 2011. After that, she attended the prestigious Royal College of Art in London and completed her MA in painting in 2014. Her work features in numerous public and private collections including the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) where she featured at the museum’s inaugural exhibition in 2017. More recently Steyn presented a solo collection at the MiArt Fair in Fiera Milano City, Italy in April 2018.

MARLENE STEYN FOR L’MAD SCARVES

The Marlene Steyn for L’MAD collection consists of three limited edition silk scarves. Each scarf is printed with a different Marlene Steyn artwork, and features quality hand-rolled and hand stitched hems.