Thesis--PlanA (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2003. / Design option. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M A. (African Languages)) -- University of Limpopo, 2009 / The study evaluates the communicative aspects of the Vhavenḓa female traditional attire in the Vhembe region, Limpopo Province. Chapter one carries an introduction and background to the study, aim of the study, rationale and objectives of the study, significance of the study, literature related to the study and data analysis thereof. Chapter two carries the detailed investigation of the Vhavenḓa Traditional attire as well as the relevant times to wear that attire, where and their uses. Chapter three carries the Vhavenḓa Traditional attires that are not allowed to be worn in some occasions. Chapter four carries the findings and the recommendations of the study. Chapter five is the summary of the study.

Submitted in partial fulfillment for the Masters in Technology Fashion, Department of Fashion and Textiles, Durban University of Technology. Durban. South Africa, 2014. / My study is a qualitative research self-study. The aim of the study is to demonstrate how my multi-cultural origins have created in me my unique South African-ness and how this uniqueness has manifested in my art of fashion design. As a critically reflective practitioner-researcher trying to improve my professional practice, I have used multiple methodologies to answer the question in the title of my introspective study, “A Narrative Self-Study: How do I demonstrate my multi-cultural origins in my art of fashion?” I have used critical reflection, action research, narrative enquiry, and auto-ethnography to account for how my discovery of my amaXhosa and amaMpondo roots has interacted with my Bosotho-ness, and my Born-again Christian awareness. I have thus transformed my understanding of myself, my values, my beliefs about myself and the world around me. I collected the data in a number of different ways: I reflected on the lived experiences of my childhood; I observed and participated in cultural rituals, and reflected on these lived experiences; I used unstructured interviews to talk to many people who provided information which I recorded using a digital camera and took notes. These experiences and reflections enabled me to develop a Mix-and-Match Fusion Fashion design range of outfits. My Mix-and-Match Fusion Fashion design range incorporates a number of elements which identify with all of my cultural origins. I believe that my Mix-and-Match Fusion Fashion range demonstrates my South African-ness in my art of fashion design. It represents and expresses, symbolizes and celebrates the transition of my beliefs and understanding of my journey of self-discovery involving my five personas. I have used visual methodologies to analyse my designs and employed visual analysis to discuss my findings. I believe that Africans are increasingly proudly wearing and accepting their traditional attire as high fashion. I believe that the design of my Mix-and-Match Fusion Fashion range is suitable for the Southern African market, and demonstrates that I have effectively used my multi-cultural origins to improve my art of fashion.

MENVSC / Department of Hydrology and Water Resources / Africa is endowed with various earthy materials, of which each community is uniquely identified. Inspite of the vast knowledge of western cosmetics, application of traditionally used cosmetics have been in existence and will be into practice from generation to generation, this is as a result of their various indigenous knowledge about traditional cosmetics. They are mostly applied during traditional rites and festive periods. Occasionally, earthy materials play a vital role in traditionally used cosmetics. Different reasons have been associated with the use of these earthy materials, they are: for skin cleansing, protection against ultra violet radiation, skin lightening, perfecting the distorted part of the skin and improving beauty. This study is focused on the physico-chemical, chemical and mineralogical characterisation of earthy materials indigenously used as cosmetics. This is achieved firstly by identifying the various earthy materials applied topically as well as their constituents. Samples for this study were obtained from six (6) different African countries namely: Botswana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, South Africa and Swaziland and were subjected to the following analyses: Scanning Electron Microscope and Electron Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy for the morphology and elemental analysis, hydrometer method for the determination of particle sizes of each sample and a texture Auto Lookup Software Package (TAL Version 4.2) for the classification of their various textures (%clay, %sand and %silt). The X-ray diffractometry was applied for the identification of their mineral phases (secondary, major and minor). The Brunauer Emmett and Teller (BET) method was used for the physisorption analysis and classifying them according to their isotherm types (Type I, II, III, IV, V and VI). The chemical analysis was achieved by X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The result revealed that the morphology of the various representative samples varies, except CMR 1; 2, SCC 1; 2 and SLW 1; 2 which showed same structure and same elemental constituents, their resemblance indicated that they possess same geological formation. The XRF result indicated the presence of the following trace elements: Al, As, Au, Ba, Bi, Br, Ca, Cd, Ce, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Dy, Er, Eu, Fe, Ga, Gd, Ge, Hf, Hg, Ho, I, In, K, La, Lr, Lu, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nd, Ni, Nb, Os, P, Pb, Pd, Pr, Pt, Re, Rh, Ru, S, Sc, Se, Sb, Si, Sm, Sn, Sr, Ta, Te, Tb, Th, Ti, U, V, W, Y, Yb, Zr and Zn, were measured in ppm. For example, Fe – 66.47 (Qwa-Qwa), Al – 4.64 (Swaziland), Si – 6.26 (Democratic Republic of Congo), Ti – 3.75 (Qwa-Qwa) and so on. From the particle size distribution analysis, some samples were identified to be clay (BTS 1, BTS 2, NG 1, SCC 4, SCC 5, SCC 9, SCC 11, SCC 12, SWL 1 and SWL 2) with their particle sizes < 2μm, whereas other samples showed other properties which are > 2 μm. Ten minerals were identified in the clay fraction samples: albite, goethite, halloysite, hematite, kaolinite (kaolinite-1Md, kaolinite 1) Mica (muscovite), sulphur, talc, chalcanthite and whewellite. The BET method vii for physical adsorption revealed that BTS 1, BTS 2, CMR 1, CMR 2, DRC A, DRC B, NG 1, NG 2, SWL 1, SWL 2, SCC 1, SCC 4, SCC 5, SCC 8, SCC 9, SCC 11 and SCC 12 countries possess Type II isotherm whereas samples from SCC 2, SCC 6, SCC 7 and SCC 10 had Type III isotherm. The physisorption analysis result also determined the various surface areas and porosity of each representative samples.