If Missoni’s zigzag is what draws you to a cardigan, look closely at MaXhosa’s MLC17.
IF YOU LIKE
MISSONI
Rosita and Ottavio Missoni founded their knitwear business in Gallarate in 1953. The zigzag became a signature in the 1960s. On this lamé viscose cardigan, bands of chevrons run across the body and sleeves, framed by dark ribbed trim. Crewneck. Mother-of-pearl buttons. Made in Italy.
Missoni Zig Zag Lamé Viscose Cardigan
Raschel knit, crewneck, mother-of-pearl buttons. Made in Italy.
Image via missoni.com
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MAXHOSA AFRICA
Laduma Ngxokolo founded MaXhosa in South Africa in 2010, drawing on traditional Xhosa beadwork aesthetics. The MLC17 places black-and-white geometric motifs within a turquoise collar, placket and cuffs. Knitted button-down cardigan. Made in South Africa. Listed at R16,500.
MaXhosa MLC17 Knitted Button-Down Cardigan
Geometric knit with turquoise collar, placket and cuffs. Made in South Africa.
Image via maxhosa.africa
MaXhosa began with Ngxokolo’s search for knitwear suited to amakrwala, Xhosa initiates. Having undergone the initiation process himself, he wanted garments that reflected his heritage. Traditional beadwork patterns, symbolism and colours became the starting point for a contemporary knitwear collection.
Missoni’s chevrons move in horizontal bands. MaXhosa’s angular motifs repeat across the body, framed by turquoise at the collar, placket and cuffs. Both make pattern the first thing you notice. That is where the pairing begins: two houses making a cardigan recognisable through geometry, each with its own history of colour, technique and cultural meaning.
IF YOU LIKE
MISSONI
Missoni Zig Zag Lamé Viscose Cardigan
In 1962, the Missonis began using Raschel machines previously used for shawls to make light, colourful garments. Their experiments with rayon-viscose followed in 1963. This cardigan carries that interest in colour and construction into a fine knit, with metallic yarn adding a subtle shimmer to the zigzag.
Image via MISSONI
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MAXHOSA AFRICA
MaXhosa MLC17 Knitted Button-Down Cardigan
For MaXhosa, pattern begins with cultural inheritance. Ngxokolo’s starting point was the beadwork aesthetics of his own Xhosa heritage; the house has since expanded its references to other African cultures. The MLC17 sits within that evolving practice, bringing a distinct geometric vocabulary to a familiar button-down shape.
Image via MAXHOSA AFRICA
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