Thembi x Nike Women

I have been asked to create a piece to celebrate female football star Thembi Kgatlana and her story by Nike. Learning more about her, I have come to love that her determination to be the best is not to surpass others, but to show people what is possible. Her attitude is that her skills and talent are a conduit to put South Africa on the map, and to help create a future for girls to be able to pursue their passions without the obstacles that she has weaved through. Besides accolades in her many achievements, such as winning African Woman’s Footballer of the year in 2018, what moves me about her is how effortlessly she embodies her message ‘Play to shape the future’. Making the work, I dissected the shapes that represents the game through which she strives to be a role model to others, and my goal was to capture her powerful and joyful demeanour through bold colours.

When Thembi was growing up her mother begged her to play netball because “soccer was for boys” but she knew where her passion lay. In a country where there are still places that women are denied football grounds to practice, I can’t imagine how many countless difficult days and decisions she has made on her path. Because of this, I decided to create a video of me making the portrait of her.

Much like her story, it’s not in the final achievement where the message lies, but in all the steps its takes to get there. I think no matter whether you are playing with a ball or needle and thread, we can all harness a little of Thembi’s joy and strength.

Camera Adam Vinokur

Editor Eben Smal (Haezer)

Music Faphappy by Mac Motel

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  • Portraits
  • Pop
  • Commercial
  • Animals
  • Mixed Media
  • Floral
  • Apparel
  • Collaboration
  • Street
  • Rackets
  • Type
  • Girl Dust

Sleeping with 5 cats

Lone Splendor

ADIDAS x STITCHED CLASSICS

FRESH RELIEF

Such a pair

Gelly eye

GIRL DUST // 2022

A CASUAL DAY IN TAIPEI

STRAIGHT TALKING

LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE

SIZWE

I’M A SUCKER FOR YOU

STITCHES & BLOOMS

ALBUM COVER x JEREMY LOOPS

My Sugars

WHATEVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT

Wasfi

Metalise

BITTER SWEETHEARTS

CYANOTYPE

LANI SPICE

SERVE IT SLOWLY

ADIDAS X RE-IMAGINE A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE / CONCEPT SHOE

JOY

Lucy’s shoes

TWO GIN

CLUELESS

GIRL DUST // 2021

POMEGRANATES

OATLY X RE-RUNS

SNOOP

BOB ROSS

MR A

MARBLES, LOST AND FOUND

HUMMINGBIRD RACKET

Manatee

NIKE x GURL TALK

JESS LEE OF THE SEA

ALL THAT GLIMMERS IS HOME

FURBY

WHAT A RACKET

POMPOCOLYPSE

BIRDS OF A FEATHER X OLIVIE KECK

RAVE RAT

FROOT LOOPS

ONGO GABLOGIAN

TATA

BUSHBABY BABY

ALL SORTS OF STITCHES

WHAT YOU SEE IN ME

NINJABREAD BOY

TOPOGRAPHIC ROMANCE

JEFF GOLDBLUM

THE CRITERION COLLECTION X THE HEIRESS

Saturday sleep in

Alain

Prince

Thembi x Nike Women

WEDNESDAY

Gucci X 24 Hour Ace

Biggie Smalls

Magenta

Danielle Clough

COSMOS OF OFF CUTS

will smith, embroidery, danielle clough

The Fresh Prince

Long distance lovers

TRESPASS

Origins

NETFLIX x DAVID LETTERMAN & TINA FEY

Mother Bored

NIKE HQ X BILL BOWERMAN

Danielle Clough sappi

SAPPI CALENDER X KALLYNO

Winonas

ADOBE X PHOTOSHOP COLLABORAGRAM

NIKE X FIANCE KNOWLES AND AF-1

NIKE X 23

FAITH IN 83

Air Pushy

Danielle Clough Steve Zissou

STEVE ZISSOU

JESS

United Nations X BORDERS AND BOUNDARIES

QUEER AFRICA 2

Fiance Knowles x RVCA

LAURA PALMER / TWIN PEAKS

BASQUIAT

Vans X If the Shoe fits

AFRICAN INNOVATION FOUNDATION X SEED

UPFEST

SKULL RACKETS

Die Antwoord X Banana Brains

THREAD PLATED

THE GIRLS

THE DUDE ABIDES

Danielle Clough embroidered moon

SPACEY THINGS

SEW, SCATTER, SEED

SNAKELET

SLOTH

SILVAN 7 / D3 COLLABORATION

SET IN BONE

RAT RACKET

OOM SCHALK

MRS MIA WALLACE

MCMOUSE

MAX BRODEL EYE

FRENCH KNOT / FRENCH KISS

SELF PORTRAIT

LET SARAS SLEEP

KINKY THE FISH

IRIS

HELLO BOKKIE

GIRL GONE GLITCHY

FOREVER

FENCE DARNING

EDIE SEDGWICK

CASSIAS ON STEEL

BAT

ALPACALYPSE

FOXING

A LITTLE LOUIS

SILENCE

CHEWY & OTHER STAR WARS THINGS

RABBITS

TYPE

BE A RIVER WITH ME x JORDAN METCALF

HAND NAAI

STITCHES ON PICTURES

Capsule Projects exhibition

Fast food

NONKU

Birds

SKULLS

Danielle Clough Nike fruit

Fruit

Cats and Dogs

PENDANTS