My friend Michelle was in town today on a nine-hour layover, and I took her on a whirlwind sight-seeing tour of Joburg. On our way to the Neighbourgoods Market in Braamfontein we came across a Volkswagen Beetle parked on Juta Street. The car was covered in vintage clothes.
Lungi’s mobile vintage shop.
The car belongs to a young woman named Lungi, and her husband, Allah. Lungi (who seems to be the main spokesperson for the business) said they wanted to open a stall inside the market but the costs are too high. So they decided to set up shop on the street.
Lungi and Allah set up their Vintage Volkswagen. The interior of the car holds additional stock and also doubles as a dressing room.
Today was Lungi and Allah’s first day selling on Juta Street. Lungi said they get much of their merchandise from old age homes in the area. I’m no fashion expert, but I received a bit of training a few weeks ago on my shopping trip to Junkie. And to my eye, Lungi’s clothes look pretty freaking cool. Lungi and Allah themselves are also charmingly hip, yet unpretentious.
They sell shoes, too.
Lungi and Allah were just getting set up when Michelle and I first walked past. We came back about 40 minutes later and the Volkswagen was surrounded by trendy Braamfontein hipsters.
Can you see the car under there?
Lungi chats up her clientele.
People like Lungi and Allah make Joburg great. I admire their enterprising spirit. And I must say that I think their merchandise looks much more interesting than what I saw for sale inside the market.
Check out the Volkswagen on Juta Street next Saturday. Lungi and Allah also sells their clothes at Market on Main on Sundays.
How have I never blogged about 44 Stanley Avenue, the coolest shopping and dining complex in Joburg, which is only five minutes from my house?
I guess it’s wrong to say I’ve never blogged about 44 Stanley; I’ve mentioned it countless times over the years (see here and here) when writing about specific restaurants or shops that are there. But I’ve never written a dedicated post about 44 Stanley as a destination and it’s about time I did – especially now, with the holidays upon us.
I’ve been dreadfully uninspired lately, struggling to think of anything I want to blog about despite having a long list of great ideas (many of which you, my readers, provided in September). I’m finding it hard to feel positive about life at the moment. But on Saturday Thorsten and I got the chance to visit Indwe Park, an indigenous garden and sculpture park in Braamfontein, and I knew I had my topic for today.
Given this week’s political nuclear bomb blast, it feels like a weird time to publish a light-hearted post about my recent (pre-election) jaunt through the United States. But I’m hoping you’ve have had enough of the U.S. election horror show – I know I have – and are ready (at least temporarily) for some wholesome American travel adventures. If so, please read on about my four-day visit to Maine, the northeastern-most state in the lower 48, with my sister, Susanna.
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It makes me smile, when I see it.