HAUTE PROPERTY

As Africa's design market burgeons, fashion house Budism Couture takes the road less travelled, setting up its atelier and showroom in a restored heritage building in Cape Town, where it elegantly fuses the age-old traditions of Parisian haute couture with contemporary elements

There are, as yet, few couture labels on the African continent, but the Cape Town-based Budism Couture is doing a noteworthy job of changing those statistics.

Founded in 2014 by Budi Adji and Philipp Althof in Hong Kong, but now based in South Africa, the haute couture label specialises in creating bespoke hand-embroidered and accessories, using both local and global artisans and textile manufacturers.

The brand is driven by a desire to employ the highest quality craftsmanship to create simple but exquisite silhouettes and, in 2022, it felt it needed an architectural manifestation of this ethos, acquiring a derelict 240-year-old Cape Dutch building, located on Cape Town's Bree Street, to house its atelier and showroom. Originally built in the 1780s, the building has since been meticulously restored by local architecture studio Peerutin Karol, who were keen to preserve its historical essence while incorporating modern design elements, reflecting Budism Couture's signature aesthetic and approach to fashion.

The entrance, featuring a grand glass door adorned with 88 hand-forged steel roses, leads into a foyer where a spectacular sculptural staircase winds up to the atelier on the floor above. Here, each garment is custom-made, using time-honoured techniques and artisanal skills. Meanwhile, the top floor, covered by a new titanium zinc roof, houses an entertaining space, where a terrace offers views over the city and Table Mountain. The three floors are dotted throughout with modern African artworks and contemporary design pieces, including Rich Mnisi's 'Vumboni I' sheepskin sofa, Ardmore textiles, and furniture by Nøde, all South African brands.

Behind the bustle of Bree Street, this project is a striking fusion of serenity and rigour. Here, the Budism Couture team can meet and entertain clients, collaborate with both skilled local craftspeople and artisanal French ateliers, and create their bespoke garments, adhering to the centuries-old traditions of Parisian couture.