The Silhouett Story

Silhouett's journey began in South Africa in the 1980s when Susan Bezuidenhout, a farmer's wife and skilled seamstress, founded her own clothing manufacturing company. Under her expert and skilful leadership, the business flourished and thrived. After several successful years in business, Susan made the choice to sell the company and relocated to Hartenbos, in the beautiful Garden Route region. In 1994, while traveling through Asia, Susan's daughter, Marlett discovered her passion in the bustling textile markets of Thailand. Inspired by her mother's entrepreneurial spirit, Marlett, a B.Com graduate and talented seamstress herself, realised she wanted to follow in her mother's footsteps. Upon their return to South Africa, the first shipment of garments from Thailand arrived, and shortly after, Silhouett made its debut at a seasonal market in the seaside town of Hartenbos.

As the brand grew, this dynamic mother-daughter duo sought a permanent home for Silhouett, and in 2012, they opened their first dedicated space at The Goodshed in Mossel Bay, all the while continuing to showcase their range at major festivals across South Africa, including Nampo, Aardklop, and KKNK. 2013 marked a pivotal moment for the two women with the opening of Silhouett's flagship store at Langeberg Mall in Mossel Bay, followed by the opening of a third location at the Garden Route Mall in George in 2018.

Today, under the expert leadership of Marlett, Silhouett continues to thrive and evolve, reaching new heights of success. Marlett continues to bring unwavering pride and dedication to every step of the process, carefully guiding each stage - from procurement and design to manufacturing.

The Fabric

Silhouett’s signature cotton and linen range, sourced from South Korea and manufactured exclusively for us, has been part of our story since the beginning, carrying a legacy of quality and longevity.

These natural fabrics are valued for their lightweight feel, durability, and effortless care — breathable and comfortable in any season. Linen softens and becomes more beautiful with time, while cotton offers a soft, smooth touch for lasting wear. Each garment is overdyed in Silhouett’s exclusive colour palette: first produced in its natural raw state, then dyed at high temperature to allow the colour to fully penetrate the fibres. After dyeing, the garment is rinsed in cold water to remove excess dye, air-dried, and steam-ironed for a refined finish. This overdyeing process creates a richer, layered look, with subtle variations in tone that give every piece its own unique character.