Tsilo Studios
Made to order · Johannesburg
A garment should carry the mark of the hand that made it.
About
Tsilo Studios is the studio practice of Puseletso Tsilo, a fashion design graduate and illustrator working in Johannesburg. The studio makes womenswear to order: single pieces, cut and finished by hand, in small numbers.
The work is slow by intention. Cloth is sourced and salvaged rather than ordered in bulk, panels are set by hand, and each piece is built around the person it is made for. The studio takes wabi-sabi as its measure — the irregular seam, the fading print and the visible repair are treated as the record of a garment's making, not as faults to be corrected.
Illustration runs alongside the garments. Drawings begin as studies for a collection and are also made as standalone editorial and commissioned work.
Practice
| Creative Director | Tsilo Studios |
| Fashion Designer | Urban Zulu |
| Editor in Chief | Re Plug Magazine |
| Social Media Marketing | Success by Design |
For commissions, made-to-order enquiries, press or illustration work, write to the studio directly.
EnquireEnquire
Sales, commissions, press and illustration. The studio replies within two working days.
Thank you
Your enquiry has been noted. The studio will reply to the address you gave within two working days.
Frequently
asked
How do I buy a piece?
There is no online shop. Send an enquiry with the piece you are interested in and the studio will reply with availability, fabric options, price and lead time.
How long does a made-to-order piece take?
Between four and eight weeks, depending on the piece and on fabric sourcing. Coats and hand-set panelling sit at the longer end. A date is confirmed before work begins.
Are pieces made to my measurements?
Yes. The studio works from your measurements rather than standard sizing. Clients in Johannesburg can be fitted in person; elsewhere a measurement guide is sent through.
Can two pieces be identical?
No. Cloth is sourced in short lengths and often salvaged, so print placement and colour vary from one piece to the next. A repeat is made in the same spirit, not as a copy.
Do you ship outside South Africa?
Yes, by courier from Johannesburg. Shipping is quoted per order; duties and import charges are the recipient's responsibility.
Do you take illustration commissions?
Yes — editorial, portrait and collection illustration. Send the brief, format and date through the enquiry form.
Can I visit the studio?
By appointment. Fittings and fabric viewings are arranged over email.
Terms
Draft wording — to be reviewed by the studio before the site goes live.
Commissions and made-to-order
Work begins once the design, measurements, price and delivery date have been confirmed in writing and the deposit received. Because each piece is cut for one person, confirmed orders cannot be cancelled or exchanged.
Payment
A deposit of fifty percent is payable on confirmation, the balance before dispatch or collection. Prices are quoted in South African rand and exclude shipping.
Fittings and alterations
One round of alterations is included within thirty days of delivery. Later alterations, and changes to a design after cutting has begun, are quoted separately.
Materials and variation
Cloth is sourced in short lengths and frequently salvaged. Variation in print, colour, weave and finish is part of the work and is not treated as a defect.
Delivery and damage
Pieces are sent by courier from Johannesburg and are insured in transit. Damage must be reported within seven days of delivery, with photographs and the waybill number, to hello@tsilostudios.co.za.
Illustration and licensing
Commissioned illustration is licensed for the use agreed in the brief. Copyright in all drawings remains with Puseletso Tsilo, and the studio retains the right to show the work in its portfolio.
Resale
Pieces are sold for personal use. Purchase for resale through a store or gallery requires the studio's written agreement.
Privacy
Details submitted through the enquiry form are used to answer the enquiry and to fulfil an order. They are not sold or shared with third parties beyond what delivery and accounting require.
Copyright
All images, drawings, garment designs and text on this site are the property of Tsilo Studios and may not be reproduced without permission.