Proudly SA Fashion Brand, HUGIO, Launches Online Store And Signs Actress Fundi Zwane As Ambassador
A new proudly South African manufactured sleep and loungewear brand, HUGIO, has launched today, along with its online store, just in time to celebrate the upcoming Christmas season.
The Durban-based fashion brand has launched with its debut Christmas Pyjama collection on sale – aimed at keeping the entire family feeling stylish this holiday season.
The exclusive sleep and loungewear collection cover all the necessary must-haves from baby wear to men’s and ladies pyjamas too, and is set to become a holiday favourite, while celebrating Christmas with your loved ones.
One of SA’s celebrated actresses and entrepreneurs, Fundi Zwane, has signed on to become one of HUGIO’s first ambassadors.
The 36-year-old Port Shepstone-born actress and producer, who currently stars in the SABC1 series Skeem Saam, says she is “excited to celebrate Christmas in style” this December.
“I love how comfortable and idyllic the collection is. Christmas is an important time for me to spend with my loved ones and this year I will get to do so feeling and looking my best in HUGIO,” shares Fundi.
HUGIO was developed for the market by Durban-born entrepreneur Chanayé Pillay (30) from Sibaya, who was exposed to the clothing and textile manufacturing industry from an early age.
Being born in a family of industry moguls to taking up her position as Director of Business Development at a prominent garment manufacturer in South Africa, Chanayé s love for fabric started when she and her younger brother would jump on fabric bales in their family warehouse.
“Growing up, a love developed from seeing and understanding the process that this, once jumped upon fabric, was transformed into garments,” she says.
After studying Business Management, Chanayé cemented herself in the industry solely by her passion and love for the industry and not due to being technically trained in the discipline. She was always intrigued at how magazines like Vogue have shaped the fashion industry and gave designers a voice. This led to Chanayé attending the Vogue Intensive Summer Course at the Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design in London in 2015.
After working in the industry for such a long time and with deep respect and appreciation for good clothing, coupled with something unique to offer, a fashion brand has always been set on her heart. Hence, HUGIO was born.
She says the collection was inspired by her family Christmases, coupled with an underlying tone of nostalgia and warmth.
“Accents of the poinsettia collection pays homage to my mom’s deep love for flowers, particularly the poinsettia flower bringing in the Christmas season each year. Music has been a bedrock throughout each Christmas party held in our family. Stirring feelings of joy, fun and festivities, hence the playfulness of design in the collections,” shares Chanayé.
She adds: “My grandmother’s infamous Christmas pudding was a highly anticipated treat each year, more especially so because it brought everyone together, to lend a hand or lick the batter of the spoon, hence the baking aspect of our launch pays tribute to the unity of family. Each aspect and detail of the collection was carefully and meticulously inspired and curated by the driving force of quality, to which I pay homage to my dad.”
HUGIO aims to grow and become a household name that is synonymous for leaving a footprint of comfort and quality – a hug in one. According to Chanayé, the brand’s slogan does not necessarily mean a snug fit, but rather the sense of comfort you feel after receiving a hug.
“For such a time as this” – amidst the mania of the pandemic, I could not think of a more befitting way to bring warmth, love and unity into homes, especially where our traditional sense of celebration is skewed. Hence launching a range of matching family Christmas pyjamas.”
Recently married, Chanayé tried to source matching Christmas summer pyjamas last year and to her despair, she couldn’t get any. This led to one of the driving forces for launching this Christmas Collection.
So what makes HUGIO so special for customers to wear this festive season?
“This collection was made with a lot of love, and a grave amount of detail and thoughtfulness.
We considered the fact that we do not celebrate the winter-esque cinematic Christmases we’ve witnessed growing up, rather a very sunny South African Christmas. Hence our goal was to provide a locally sourced, locally manufactured Summer range of PJ’s. Garnished with specialized softener washes on our fabrics to elevate your level of comfort.”
For Chanayé, launching this collection has been “a dream come true” – despite the challenges of a global pandemic and all the obstacles it took to realize her dream.
“One of my prayers, with respect to this brand that has always been etched on my heart, has been – God, send me the people to help me do the things that I can’t do and to help realize the dream and He did just that. During the course of the year, He sent me the right people, and this has been not only a testament but a collaboration of many hearts. I give all glory to Jesus.”
For more details visit the website: www.hugio.co.za .
