Join Li Edelkoort at Southern Guild Cape Town as she presents an inspiring look at new craft and design from the Global South. Her in-person talk brings together emerging creatives and established makers who are redefining craft, design, and culture on the international stage. Li will be signing copies of the book after the presentation.

Proud South Craft is the second volume in a series that celebrates the creative forces of the new Global South. Through the expressive lens of contemporary craft, embraced as a tool for transformation, this book highlights furniture, art, lighting, textiles, ceramics, woodwork, basketry, stonework, glass, and more.

Through 34 chapters, Li Edelkoort and Lili Tedde have brought together a dynamic group of emerging and established creatives from around the globe. "Craft is the direct link humans have with their ancestors and the beginning of civilisation," says Edelkoort. She feels this irreversible revival of craft reflects society’s desire for authenticity and tactility, to complement our modern mode of living, but more so, craft embodies our urgent need to affirm the power of humans over machines and artificial intelligence. Hence, the idea of an activist counterculture emerges, manifesting with palpable proof that the made-by-hand can become a Proud South revolutionary movement to reckon with.

With over 400 pages of captivating stories and inspiring imagery, Proud South Craft is also an object to covet, proudly sealed in a beautiful metallic cover. It includes essays from noteworthy contributors such as Brazilian designer Humberto Campana, Indian designer Gunjan Gupta, South African artist Andile Dyalvane and international gallerist Trevyn McGowan. Profiles focus on several influential artistic talents, including Ana Teresa Barboza and Rafael Freyre, Adam Birch, Alvaro Catalán de Ocón, Angela Damman, Vikram Goyal, Rosana Escobar, Andrés Gutiérrez, Porky Hefer, Fernando Laposse, and Adrian Pepe. Additional photographic essays honour Indigenous wisdom and outsider art, from the history of nomadic rugs to the landscaping of interiors, architecture, gardens and collections.

Li Edelkoort is arguably the world's most renowned trend forecaster, working in industries from fashion to food, design, architecture, technology, communication, automotive and retail. Founded in 1986, her company Trend Union produces trend tools for strategists, designers and marketers at brands from Zara to Prada. She is also a publisher, humanitarian, educator, and exhibition curator. Edelkoort has been named one of the Most Influential People in Fashion and one of the Most Influential People in Design. From 1998–2008 she was Chairwoman of Design Academy Eindhoven before moving to New York from 2015–2020 where she was Dean of Hybrid Design Studies at Parsons, establishing an MFA Textile masters and New York Textile Month. In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, she co-founded the World Hope Forum as a platform to inspire the creative community to rebuild a better society. Edelkoort's latest publications include Proud South (2020), Uxua Utopia (2022), and Proud South Craft (2025), each of which celebrates the creative talent of the Global South.

Spaces are limited, so please click on this link to RSVP for this event.
We look forward to welcoming you then!

Image: Lidewij Edelkoort wearing a mask by Bertjan Pot. Photo by Camiel Donders.