Five years ago a small group of women got together at The Kitchen, a woman owned coffee shop in Woodstock, to discuss ways of sharing, understanding, growing and knowing each other. Last week a core group of the many hundreds of women who've been involved in WOMAN ZONE got together at Lelapa, a woman owned restaurant in Langa, to celebrate!

Our hosts were mother and daughter team Monica (left and Sheila Motsei Mahloane.

Sheila told us the amazing story of how Lelapa came to be from the tiny two-roomed house that it was. Frustrated by working as a domestic earning R40 a week, she set out on mission selling second hand clothes, then importing them from Bangkok and little by little raising the funds to buy a car, extend the house to what it is today and realise her goal of running a restaurant....in Langa, Cape Town's oldest township.

....a well recognised and respected one at that....

Her story was captivating....and a lesson in determination.

Someone else who not only always has stories to share, but songs - and Philippa opened proceedings with a specially written Thank You song.....

Nancy shared a bit too - of our history, our milestones and the contributions of all the women present or just with us in spirit....

And so we were ready to eat.....(ps: spot the lone brave male, Mjikisile from Artscape's Board!)

And what a spread there was!....These were just a few of the vegetarian specials....

....plates filled - not the moment to have waistline worries....

.....but to celebrate every dish, so deliciously put together....

.....by Monica and her kitchen team.....

There were some contented smiles.....

....meaningful conversations.....

....happy moments.....

....togetherness....

.....and a good time had by all!

And a moment of magic as Malika, mamma moon, shared her poem 'In the Company of Women'....

....and had us enrapt with her words and sounds....

....enrapt!

Beryl shared the way forward...our future plans and projects....

....and Daphne shared a lighter moment with our shweshwe rosette...!

Philippa tinkled the ebonies....

....while Monica tots up the tally.....

....and Annie gets the shot!

Some fond farewells....

....bit of chaos.....

....and time to say goodbye....

....but not without a special thank you to Janet....mama MLT Corp for getting us there....

.....in style and comfort!

...with a special thank you to Courtney for bringing us back to our Artscape home.

So thanks to all who came and shared our Ladies Lunch at Lelapa in Langa....lovely!

....Thank yooooooo. x

Who's Who: Top row left to right: Mara Fleischer, Daphne Cooper, Sarah Jacobson, Lorna Zilwa, Mjiko Vulindlu. Middle row from left: Angelina Mhlawuyo, Janet Pillai, Lorraine de Villiers, Ethel Hamman, Theresa Smith, Melanie Lippert, Malika Ndlovu, Ntiski Sigege, Jennipher Gubuza, Odette Halliford, Marlene le Roux, Philippa Kabali-Kagwa. Bottom row, from left: Beryl Eichenberger, Anine Pheiffer, Lindisiwe Mlotywa, Sindiwe Magona, Carol du Toit, Annie Bisset, Nancy Richards.

Artscape's wardrobe of glittering costumes is one of Cape Town's best kept secrets. Or it was until Saturday when Gabeba Isaacs spilled the beans - at a WOMAN ZONE Story Cafe in her honour!

In conversation with journalist Theresa Smith she explained the inner workings of how these wonderful, sometimes weird outfits are made.

She talked about basic pattern blocks, darts and toiles - the language of a costumier.

....about bodices, baubles, brocade and built-in sweat pads....and the duvet sized petticoat that makes the The Queen of Hearts frock fulsome....

.....about the fabric buyer, the curtain cloth and cutting sequinned cloth by the metre for Tina Turner's sexy shift....

And in the audience were two of her gurus - mentors Eva Parsons and Penny Simpson....

...who joined in conversations about the unavailability of good fabrcs these days and how you have to improvise with patchworked leather outfits for Troillus and Andronicus.....

....and the stories of the designs and designers are legion....Gabeba's archive file is thick with examples....

Turns out the talented Gabeba - who retires next month after nearly forty years in the wardrobe wonderland, is able to turn her hand to other things....like matric dresses....

So the other doyenne Wardrobe Women with all their wisdom were persuaded to come and share.....

....and answer questions from the audience....

...until it was time to say thank you....with flowers for the rare blooms of the wardrobe world....

....meanwhile, all this time, Khayelitsha Yo-yo Queens. Jennipher and Angelina had been using the time wisely - stitching as they listened....

Just time for a photo-op to record the event.....

...and pay tribute to all the fabulous women keeping sewing alive - most especially to Gabeba and we wish her well in the next chapter of her life which, we hope, will include passing on her skills. Watch this space!

....then finally time to pack away all the wonders of the wardrobe back into their secret space. And just fyi, the wardrobe archive is the size of two rugby fields!!

....last but not least, time to say thank you to Ambre Nicholson and Theresa Smith for getting this very special Woman Zone honouring STORY CAFE together. xx

Great gathering for our Story Cafe at the Women's Library August 8, called simply 'Women and Their Books.'

There was Ambre Nicholson with her A-Z of Amazing South African Women....

There was Colleen Higgs of Modjaji who published it.....

There was Chwayita Ngamlana with her debut novel, 'If I stay right here'.....

There was Qarnita Loxton with her first title too,'Being Kari'.....

There was the award-winning Maxine Case with her 'Softness of the Lime'....

As an added extra there was Emma Kriel with her 'Gathering Shards'....

There was lively debate and interaction.....

....with family and friends.....

....lots of questions....

....and even autographs! Hope we'll see you at the next Story Cafe - watch our facebook page for details Woman Zone CT or sign up for our mailing list on info@womanzonect.co.za. See you then. xx

Women's Day, August 9 saw the 4th annual WOMEN'S HUMANITY WALK in Cape Town - the biggest ever.....

....so we gather on the steps of St George's Cathedral.....

....inside we start to settle....

.....and then we pray.....

....and we sing.....

....and we set out, abled and disabled.....to Unite Cape Town Against Gender Violence......

.....pleased and proud to have the men joining forces with us.....

....lots of smiles....

....lots of special girls....

....and every boy special...

....all aboard for VIP's in need of wheels....

....with a photo op stop for the cameras....

.....happy marshals guiding the way...

.....and a colourful dash of culture.....

.... a good bit of our own brand....

.....stop, women crossing.....

....and women round the bend....

....another photo op stop for some selfie shares....

....and some sportscar stares....

....all shapes and sizes.....

....and a Board member joins in with a sister....

....and all together for a common cause....

....the followship.....

....the ANC is with us in spirit...one of them anyway.......

......not so pedestrian crossing.....

.....arrival in style for VIP's....

..... the rest make a united entrance.....

.....greeted by drummies....

.....and different drummies.....

.....and hummies....

...and tummies....

...there were those who brought babies.....

.....others brought peace....

.....still others their personal style, photogenic in pink....

....all flags flying high....

....with the message loud and clear...to Unite Cape Town Against Gender Violence!

....inside a living statue brings the message clearly home.....

....while another statue celebrates the loveliness of women.....

....in all their joy and achievement....

.....and finally from Woman Zone and the Artscape Women's Humanity Festival - a smile and wave till The Women's Humanity Walk next year! See you then.