GQ X Craig Port Editorial!

"THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH"

My favorite men's magazine have joined forces with Craig Port for an overwhelming editorial that I so admire, An ultra stylish editorial shot by Byron Keulemans of Boss and Vision Models and with creative direction by Arthur Malan-Murison. All images by GQ Magzine

SA Fashion Week 2014!

South African Fashion Week better known as SAFW took place a few days ago with first having a welcoming get-together; at a star-studded official opening party hosted by Jameson Select Reserve that attracted South Africa’s A-list celebrities, magazine editors, bloggers basically fashion-enthused individuals who also wanted to make their own prestigious mark and to be recognized by SA’s fashion masses. SA Fashion Week is briefly about showcasing South African talent through threads, an event that provides local designers a platform for them to launch their coveted-latest collections to buyers and the media in runway shows. And with all this happening of course, One gets to see a whole dynamic of how fashion week really works without forgetting the whimsical splendor, the ambiance and just the atmosphere present.

Keeping away from the parties and actually focusing mainly about the clothing, A week bursting of everything fashion, trends and luxury commenced on the 2^nd till the 8^th of April featuring installations and shows like the sheer glamour show by motions and TRESemme followed by Gert-Johan Coetzee, Lunar, Rubicon, Joel Janse van Vuuren, Vino, Black Coffee, CUTTERIER by Laz Yani - crystals by Swarovski and Clive Rundle. With just a quick-reflect on one of South Africa’s most loved fashion designers currently Jacques van der Watts for Black Coffee also showcased his Spring/Summer collection at SAFW that always seems to embrace a distinctive feel, a contrast and re-shapes traditions that result in a familiar yet refreshingly uniquely created collection. Another proudly South African fashion designer who’s influence in the fashion industry has multiplied at a wide-spread acclaim and is respected for his work is Gert Johan Coetzee; having to dress international celebrities, local celebrities as well as pageant queens his work has earned him a title of being South Africa’s Designer of the year! He’s collections are inspired by the red carpet style look as well as featuring his signature look of incorporating metal silver and gold belts on to his garments.

I presume the best part of SA Fashion Week are the installations, it’s always a great experience having to stand there, gasp, to be inspired and to peruse the designs, trying to understand what the designer is really trying to say to you through their plethora of coveted artsy pieces, Installations grants you exactly that and once again Black Coffee featured an installation as well as Cloche on the second night of SAFW. There’s a certain way how installations can be thought provoking and can introduce a distinct emotion, a contrast from the vibe and atmosphere in a runway show. Installations are evocative in a way where you get to understand the detail, the fabric and what the designer was really thinking when creating the collection. Let’s keep on supporting SA Fashion designers; having mediums like South African Fashion Week that help in introducing new blood in the most competitive industry is delighting enough for us fashion forward individuals who want to see the growth and development towards fashion here in South Africa.

IMAGES: Jerri Mokgofe Photography

Fashion || Fashion & Art Pop Collision!

Fashion can be interpreted in various ways, whereas art can be a form of expressing oneself creatively through a sketch, portrait, painting, cartoon etc. These two facets are synonymous and amalgamate very well together in a way where renowned designers actually consider the mutuality of integrating both fashion and art pop onto their designs. Have you ever heard of fashion being referred to as wearable art? Well due to popular belief, certain designers and fashion houses have literally acted upon this phrase by creating and incorporating the most winsome and picturesque art that has lived on over the years through their plethora of coveted and sought-after creations.  Anything that has to do with thinking out of the box and introducing something new that we all didn’t see coming excites me enough to write a post on it.

ART has served as a canvas for designers; establishing them to create and act as artists and produce their fine art spin using painterly prints, patterns and symbolism; without forgetting brushstrokes in order for them to present real works of art come to life on the runway. The reminiscent backdrop of art plays way more than just using up ancient writings and paintings of larger than life individuals like Leonardo Da Vinci for example, without any quarrels they too produced artistry work; they’ve created a life of their own. But haven’t we created artsy work as well? Nothing appeals to me more beautifully and relatable than this generation’s creativity that we visualize from people on a day-to-day basis through forms of music, the way people dress and graffiti paintings, the inspiration that hits you at that very moment is undeniably  irreplaceable.

Through so many ways of fusing street murals, abstract elements, sketchbook drawings and gangsta graffiti images, Fashion designers have transposed these types of materials on to their stunning garments; dresses, coats, tops, bottoms etc. They amazingly add world class illustrations fusing this with their vision for that particular collection, producing work where only models can only play the part of being modern day-walking portraits on the runway. As an avid fashion-enthused website’s and blog’s reader I found these beautiful images that I assume are compatible enough to add on and complete what I’m really tryna say.

Press Release || The Hype & Everything MBFWJ!

The dates for South Africa’s premier annual autumn/winter fashion show, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Joburg (MBFWJ), have been set, with over 34 of the country’s top designers lined up to present collections in  15 shows at the Sandton Convention Centre over three days, from 20 to 22 March.

At this, one of the country’s foremost sartorial events, the runway will feature a stellar collection showcasing the likes of Marianne Fassler, David Tlale, Stefania Morland, and Leigh Schubert as well as the many  exceptional newcomers included in the 2014 line-up.

Menswear will also receive a substantial showing in the form of collections from ten leading labels such as Fabiani, Augustine, Ruald Rheeder, Laduma and Viyella, as well as the four emerging menswear designers featured in the African Fashion International (AFI) Next Generation incubation programme.

Other elite labels showcasing at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Joburg 2014 include Abigail Betz, Morphe and Avant Apparel from Johannesburg; Shana, Selfi and Tart from Cape Town; and Pretoria’s Irmgard and Tsotetsi KL.

“Each year, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Joburg offers a national opportunity for established and up-and-coming local designers to showcase their new autumn/winter collections. The unprecedented talent lined up this year proves that South Africa’s fashion industry is growing from strength to strength,” says AFI Executive Chairperson, Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe.

As fashion is an extension of cultural expression, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Joburg 2014’s theme, “Creative Freedom: Under the Pillars of Fashion, Art and Design,” will celebrate the 20th democracy.

In keeping with the theme, MBFWJ is intended as an equal-opportunity platform to foster creative independence amongst the new generation of talent in the fashion and design industry. As such, the Fastrack™, Next Generation and FashionTalks programmes, which all feature in the 2014 MBFWJ line-up, aim to identify enrichment opportunities for young, up-and-coming designers in the fashion world.

“Through these initiatives, the South African fashion industry will be supported, aiding efforts to bolster the industry as a whole, thereby benefitting the entire economy,” adds Dr Moloi-Motsepe.

The 10 finalists of the AFI Fastrack™ initiative, now in its fourth year, will have the invaluable opportunity to showcase their own designs on the same runways as renowned labels. The FashionTalks seminars, meanwhile, are themed “Cutting from New Cloth: Innovation in Fashion” and extend AFI’s mission to promote new Talent on a global platform through educating the local design community on the importance of cultivating innovation and sustainability.

With these initiatives and the participation of 34 of South Africa’s top-drawer designers, the 2014 MBFWJ will be as much about providing for fashion’s future as it will be about respecting its past and showcasing its present.

The partners of MBFWJ 2014 include:

• Mercedes-Benz South Africa

• City of Joburg

• South Africa Tourism

• MAC South Africa

• GHD South Africa

• Carlson-Rezidor Hotel Group

• Gauteng Growth & Development Agency (GGDA)

For Media queries please contact COMMUNICATION SERVICES AFRICA (C.S.A):

Megan Gotkin: megan@celebsa.com, (t) +27 21 433 0347 or (c) +27 72 143 1525

MBFWJ SCHEDULE

About AFI

African Fashion International (AFI) presents African fashion and creative talent in a manner that makes fashion from the continent globally relevant and ensures that the world has market access to African product  and design. Through the organisation’s promotion, curation and support services, AFI ensures that the international community responds positively and commercially to African-designed products that are readily  available, unique and on-trend. Through its Fashion Weeks, namely Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Joburg, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Cape Town and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Africa, AFI opens up the continent to commercial projects, both locally and internationally- increasing the geographic spread and market access to the continent’s design equity, fashion apparel, accessories and crafts. AFI showcase the best designers from the continent, offering them access to the domestic and international market share, while also growing a platform meant to support the sustainability of the African fashion industry through job creation. AFI also remains committed to growing a new legion of designers through the AFI Fastrack™ programme.

Content&Images: AFI