African style is not just a garment – it’s a sensation
July 5, 2014/Tonight, South Africa
By Dianne Hawker and Zara Nicholson
Let there be sequins, jewellery, metres and metres of African-inspired fabric and all things decadently fashionable, dahling!
Just days before the fourth annual Nokia Cape Town Fashion Week kicks off the entire fashion industry is in a frenzy of preparation for what has been called South Africa’s premier fashion event.
The theme for this year’s Cape Town Fashion Week, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, is “New World Africa” and is to showcase garments by 72 designers.
For the first time the show is also to serve as a springboard for 10 model hopefuls competing in this year’s Face of Africa competition.
Their performances at fashion week will determine whether they proceed to the final stage of the competition next month.
Model Melody Zulu, 21, from Durban, said she was excited but nervous about taking part in such a major event. This week the group took part in several dress rehearsals and got to wear the garments for the first time.
Zulu strutted her stuff in a pink-and-black Malick original, turning heads at the V&A Waterfront where yesterday’s dress rehearsal was held.
“I feel absolutely beautiful in this outfit. The fabric is so soft and comfortable,” she said.
The fashion show will give finalists an opportunity to get the feel of the catwalk before taking part in the Face of Africa final at Sun City on August 13.
Fashion week will showcase a range of young local talents, several African designers and a healthy order of such established designers as Malcolm Kluk, Gavin Rajah, Hip Hop and Fred Eboka.
This year Rajah will be returning to Cape Town with a line fresh off the catwalks of Paris. The Durban-born designer is the first South African to show at Paris Fashion Week and will be showing the same collection at Cape Town Fashion Week.
With just six days to go to show time, designers have been working overtime to ensure their collections are ready for the catwalk.
Tasleem Bulbulia, of Funeka, is offering a fresh interpretation using local fabrics only.
“It is Japanese-inspired and I am using all-African fabrics, sponsored by Da Gama textiles.
“There is a vibrant dynamic … I’ve decided to use global trends … interpreted in an African way.”
Designer Malick Basadien said his label, Malick, would offer “a lot of colour and vibrance” this year and feature Euro-African styles that would have “global appeal, not only local”.
Cheryl Arthur, of Hip Hop, said audiences could expect a fantasy experience. The design house regularly pulls out all the stops.
“You can expect anything from denim and resort wear to evening wear. The range will be feminine, sexy and highly wearable.”
Arthur also promised a “big surprise” in the Hip Hop collection, which would also include designs from the sub-brand “Afro-Diva”.
Audiences will be in for a number of interesting surprises, including a Pan-African Showcase and a range by Spero Villioti, who is showing at the Cape Town Fashion Week for the first time.
Up-and-coming designers Steph G, Mon Moir, Darkie, Ella Buter and Reine, some of whom have a strong following, will launch their ranges at next week’s event. The Elizabeth Galloway Academy returns this year with a fresh batch of student designers.
Organisers tip the Southern African Showcase and Pan African Showcase as must-sees. They say Nigerian designer Deola Sagoe ranks high on the list of African designers and has shown at the New York Fashion Week.
Another first will be the launch of the Uwe Koetter Jewellers V4UK jewellery collection by designer Vanessa Ramazotti. The jewellery will be showcased with Zinzi Couture’s collection on July 13.
Gerry Rantseli, spokeswoman for the Cape Town Fashion Week, believes the event will provide an opportunity for African designers to challenge some of the world’s perceptions about the continent.
“African fashion has found a unique voice and inspiring energy,” she said.
“Nokia Cape Town Fashion Week is a celebration of the diversity and creative passion of our designers.
“Cape Town has long been where many first experience Africa, (so) it is apt that it has become the largest platform for showcasing our design talent.”
dianneh@incape.co.za
This article was originally published on page 13 of Cape Argus on July 05, 2014
