Joburg Fashion Week 07

Soweto showcase

Soweto’s position as one of the creative powerhouses of the new South Africa was re-affirmed after it hosted the first day of Joburg Fashion Week (from 21-25 August).

The Soweto Showcase is the first ever major fashion week event to be held in the area, motivated by Chairperson of African Fashion International, Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe's desire to develop the area. To commemorate the opening of Joburg Fashion Week 2007on 21^st August, fashionistas, press and designers descended on the Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown, Soweto for the Soweto Showcase.

Showcasing spring/summer collections was Mzansi Designers, Nhlanhla, John Sithole (Earthquake), Sibu Msimang Designs, Malikah and Darkie. These designers were joined by Thabani Mavundla, David Tlale and Thula Sindi who recently exhibited at Paris Fashion Week, alongside Gavin Rajah, as part of the C'est Couture project

Highlights of the show!

Sun Goddess graced the runnway



(Photo Credits: Courtesy of Simon Deiner: www.sdr.co.za)

View the vid!

Visit Joburg Fashion Week for more on the event.

CTFW

Cape Town Fashion Week, celebrates its landmark fifth spring/summer 2007 collections.

The Cape Town Fashion Week, a premier South African Fashion showcase, founded and presented by African Fashion International (AFI), celebrated its 10anniversary on hosting the city’s major fashion event this August.

This fashion extravaganza included a charity fashion show entitled The Positive Collection. The collection fuses South Africa designers such as Gavin Rajah, Stoned Cherrie, Hip Hop, Kluk CGDT, David Tlale and Errol Arendz to individually design fashion ensembles to raise money for Positive which supports Tapologo AIDS Hospice, Noah, St Michaels and Missionvale Care Centre. Take a look!

Among other designers who showcase their collections at Cape Town Fashion Week were, AngloGold Ashanti AuDITIONS, C’est Couture (David Tlale, Craig Jacobs, Thabani Mavundla, and Thula Sindi), presented by Chivas Regal, Cosmo Lingerie Show, Gideon, In Style Charity Fashion Show, Julia Dalakian (Russia), Old Mutual Vukani Fashion Designer Awards, Paul van Zyl & Zinzi Couture with Uwe Koetter, Philosophy by Jenni Button, Port by Craig Port, Sonwabile Ndamase for Vukani Range Collections, the Pos+tive Collection (Errol Arendz, Stoned Cherrie, Hip Hop, Klûk CGDT, Gavin Rajah, Deola Sagoe & David Tlale), the list is endless!

Cape Town Fashion Week spring/summer '07 was held on 8-11th August at the Cape Town conference centre. For more on the fashion week, visit Cape Town Fashion Week.

Related article: C'est Couture,
'Go Red' In Style Fashion Show,
AuDITIONS at CAPE TOWN FASHION WEEK '07
Africa Fashion Week
'Go Red' In Style Charity Fashion Show

AuDITIONS at CAPTOWN FASHION WEEK '07

Gold designer pieces worth millions captivated the fashion community during the debut of the AuDITIONS Global Gold Couture Collection at Cape Town fashion Week recently

The 54-piece Gold Couture Collection, which was featured at Fashion Week, combined high fashion, glamour and show-stopping high-carat bling. The collection included selected items from AngloGold Ashanti's AuDITIONS gold design awards hosted in Brazil, India, South Africa and China.

Take a look at these high-carat bling at the catwalk!

(Photo Credits: Simon Deiner/Thunda.com)

AngloGold Ashanti AuDITIONS is the world’s largest gold jewellery design competition. Positioned as the global benchmark of cutting edge gold jewellery design, the competitions confirm that gold is going through a major metamorphosis and honours designers in Brazil, India, China and South Africa for innovation and trend-setting in gold design.

Visit AngloGold Ashanti AuDITIONS for more information and exquisite-catat jewelry.

Related story: Cape Town Fashion Week spring/summer '07

'Go Red' In Style Charity Fashion Show

Celebrates Women's Day

In honor of Women's Day, In Style Magazine’s Charity Fashion Show, in association with Elizabeth Arden and Go Red For Women, featured some of South Africa's best fashion designers and their celebrity muses on the catwalk. The glamorous event was held to raise awareness of the risk of heart disease in women and stroke campaign at the International Convention Centre on August 9, 2007 in Cape Town, South Africa. Take a look at some of the highlights from the charity fashion show!

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(Photo Credits: Courtesy of Simon Deiner: www.sdr.co.za)

1. Chichi Letswalo by Thula Sindi
2. Gerry Ratseli by Zinzi Coutre
3. Jo-Ann Strauss by Kluk CGDT
4. Nkhensani Nkosi by Stoned Cherrie
5. Unathi by Sun Goddess

Watch the event!

Related article: MTN Durban Fashion Week Spring/summer 2007,
South African Fashion
Fashion in AFrica

Africa Fashion Week

African Fashion International (AFI) will be launching Africa Fashion Week in 2007, hosting the very best fashion designers from twenty countries across the African continent.

The World Economic Forum which was held in Cape Town, South Africa from 13-15 June 2007, put African Fashion on their agenda for the first time. AFI played a key role in hosting a dinner discussion on the future of fashion in Africa and how to make it globally competitive. AFI also showcased African designers' collections at a fashion show at this premiere gathering of leaders in business, government and civil society.

AFI is spearheaded by Chairperson, Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, a respected philanthropist and successful businesswoman. Dr Moloi-Motsepe heads up a company passionate about the promotion of African fashion brands and African fashion initiatives.

African Fashion International (AFI), formerly known as Leisureworx, is the dynamic, progressive company responsible for launching some of South Africa's major fashion designers nationally and internationally. AFI owns and presents the African continent's most respected and exciting fashion weeks setting the annually ramps alight with explosive, creative energy and talent.

AFI is also the force behind several fashion related strategic marketing initiatives to ensure that South Africa is the region's fashion capital. AFI is on the forefront of the fashion and creative industries in Africa. The company has been invited to participate at international fashion weeks as well as hosting international designers at some of their fashion weeks.

''AFI's vision is to be globally competitive and recognized as a leading authority on African fashion-related initiatives and African fashion brands. We also aim to improve the quality of fashion design output from Africa, to boost and promote African fashion brands, and to dramatically raise the profile of African fashion designers.''

AFI owns and manages the following fashion weeks:

• Cape Town Fashion Week (Spring / Summer)
• Audi Joburg Fashion Week (Autumn / Winter)
• MTN Durban Fashion Week (50%) (Spring / Summer)
• Joburg Fashion Week (Spring / Summer)
• Africa Fashion Week (to be launched in 2007)

(Photo credits: African Fashion international.com)

Sika Designs

We love this chic and beautiful collection by London fashion designer Phyllis Taylor, the creation behind Sika designs, a unique and innovative label. Sika creates exceptional garments combines with West Africa textiles and styles of London’s urban chic.

Sike is inspired by the rich and diverse culture of Ghana. Every fabric used has been carefully selected in local Ghanaian markets and hand made using natural methods, creating exclusive limited prints. Each unique piece defines an area in Ghana’s vast textile landscape, by using traditional fabrics such as tie and dye, batik’s and wax prints. View some of the collection!

The garments are produced in Ghana by highly skilled tailors and seamstresses, setting high standards in garment production, an integral part of Sika’s mission to work very closely with local traders and manufactures to produce quality garments for the international market thus raising the standard of garment production in Ghana.

Sika was nominated and won the award for Most Outstanding Contribution to the Fashion Industry in 2006 and took part in a charity event Catwalk the World in Ghana showcased designs together with Ozwald Boateng and various other designers to raise money for a children’s orphanage. The two events were the highlight of 2006 for Sika.

Stay tuned for updates on Sika’s 2007 Spring/Summer collection. Visit Sika for more information and to view collection.

(Photo credits: Sika design)

Isabela Capeto

Came across some garments that captured my attention, designs of Isabela Capeto, a Brazillian designer known for her signature craftwork, mixtures of prints, patterns and the use of detailed appliqué – including sequins, crosses and handpainted stripes. Inspired by museums and books never by predetermined tendencies, as each piece is like a work of art. Isabel uses computer graphics and street art in her clothing, the mix can be seen in metal embroidery appliqué, grosgrain ribbons and beads.

I love the African and Latin American inspired ensembles, influenced by the photos of two African artists, Seydour kelta and Malick Sidibé from Mali in African who had their work displayed in a book that shows fashion in the region, in the 60’s. Take a look!

(Photo credits: IsabelaCapeto)

Visit Isabela Capeto to for more on her and view more collection

Mio Studio

We love these pieces of wooden jewelry by Mayra Orama Muñiz. She uses exotic hardwoods as an expression of life in organic moving forms. The many landscapes of her life from the modern industrial city, to the tropical rain forests in Puerto Rico, have become an inspiration to her, thus created a line of jewelry that reflects this. The designs are a melding of richly textured woods and cool metal, creating a balance and movements. Some piece of art, love the innovative combination. Take a look at the gallery!

Vist Mio Studio to view more of these contemporary pieces of jewelry.

(Photo Credits: Mio Studio)

Related article: The Branch
Pia Jewellry
NiZuri Jewellry Collection
Kipepeo

Robert Clyne Textiles

Modern classics, with a twist of African traditional textiles and Japanese Kimono craftsmanship

Great combination!
I love the concept behind this ingenuity, the dyeing and stenciling techniques used! Its obvious close detailed attention and intensity is applied on these textiles of classic beauty and quality. One can tell quality is of the essence! In a communication with Robert, I commented how it just seems like a glimpse of whats more in-store.

The curator/designer Robert Clyne has been able to embrace the versatility of both African and Japanese cultures, to crafting exquisite fabrics.
(Photo Credits: Courtesy of Robert Clyne Textiles)

Both cultures are well known for their exquisite textile which indeed has stood the test of time, the most beautiful fabrics of the highest quality are passed down from one generation to the next. Classic designs from the great Yoruba, Kuba, and Malian textile traditions designs are only used, combined with the same superior quality silk and dye process in making superior quality kimonos. Inspired by these great cultures, “Modern Heirlooms” is the result of this great concept.

The company's goal is to transfer the dyeing and stenciling techniques to African craftsmen and women to make ttheir own high-end textiles, thus gain access to a premium global market.

Brilliant work and vision. Robert Clyne Textile is on the Horizon!

Watch a video of Robert on his "Africa meets Japan" concept.

Adorn yourself with these exquisite fabrics! Visit the online store to view more and purchase.

International Supermodel Alek Wek

Alek Wek, a former refugee, is now a top international supermodel who has graced dozens of top runways and the pages of the most glamorous fashion magazines. An entrepreneur as well as a model, she has her own handbag line, Wek 1933. She’s now written an autobiography. Alek, From Sudanese Refugee to International Supermodel. Here's what her publishers say about the book:

Since the day she was scouted by a modeling agent while shopping at a London street fair when she was just nineteen, Alek Wek's life has been nothing short of a fantasy. When she's not the featured model in print campaigns for hip companies, or gracing the cover of Elle, she is working the runways of Paris, New York, and Milan to model for the world's leading designers, including Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel. But nothing in her early years prepared her for the life of a model.

Born in Wau, in the southern Sudan, Alek knew only a few years of peace with her family before they were caught up in a ruthless civil war that pitted outlaw militias, the Muslim-dominated government, and southern rebels against each other in a brutal conflict that killed nearly two million people. Here is her daring story of fleeing the war on foot and her escape to London, where her rise from young model to supermodel was all the more notable because of Alek's non-European looks.

A probe into the Sudanese conflict and an inside look into the life of a most unique supermodel, Alek is a book that will inspire as well as inform.

The book will be out on August 28th. Watch out for it!

Related article: WeK1933

PUMA: The Urban Mobility collection

Until now Puma has presented bikes as well as a limited edition of bags under the Urban Mobility theme. Now they have launched an entire dedicated website for the theme and present a very large collection of bags and accessories. The Urban Mobility collections is awesome! Designed to simplify and spruce up travel from city to city, using a blend of function and sophistication. Check out some of the collection.

The wood feature and prenium leather used on the bags, certainly makes them stand out as specail piceaces

This bag has been designed as a statement product in the Urban Mobility collection as well as being their key PR tool and door opener to the top end of the lifestyle market. It's targeted to a more fashion savvy consumer, creating a real buzz around the Urban Mobility collection and inspires other trendsetters to view the brand in a whole new light. Previously only exclusive at Selfridges, now available globally through select high-end furniture design stores and top end department stores.

It is a limited edition piece of which there is only be 600 bags. Each bag feature a silver metal plaque engraved and its own Ltd edition number.

Check out the entire collection on their newly launched website and for more in depth information related to Puma, browse Pumatalk.

(Photo Credits: Puma.com)