Durban - Established Durban designers will take part in the SA Fashion Week Spring-Summer 2013 collections in Johannesburg next month.
Terrence Bray, Amanda Laird Cherry, Colleen Eitzen, Bianca Warren and Joel Janse van Vuuren (formerly of Durban, now based in Gauteng) will be part of the line-up of 30 designers at the pageant at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Rosebank.
Other must-see names include Black Coffee, Rubicon, Ephymol, Naked Ape, Lunar, Vesselina Pentcheva and Clive Rundle.
Sheer Glamour Collections by Motions and Tresemmé will open the three-day showcase, featuring, among others, Suzaan Heyns and Stoned Cherrie, with the latest summer 2013 hair looks developed by stylists Matthew Mansoor for Tresemmé and Nthato Mashishi for Motions.
Equally anticipated is New York-based South African designer Albertus Swanepoel’s launch of his namesake luxury sportswear collection, Albertus Swanepoel Spring/Summer 2013.
The milliner – who has received critical acclaim for his runway collaborations with some of New York’s most significant designers including Marc Jacobs, Proenza Schouler, Alexander Wang and Carolina Herrera – has turned his attention to luxury women’s sportswear which he describes as “modern items that every woman can incorporate into her existing wardrobe”. The collection will be produced entirely in South Africa.
The return of designer Rahim Rawjee, founder and chief creative officer of ROW-G with a menswear collection, is another highlight of this year’s event.
Rawjee showed his first Row-G woman’s ready-to-wear collection at SA Fashion Week in 2000 and his label quickly earned a reputation for innovative design before he decided to take a sabbatical from design in 2002. Row-G opened its doors in November last year.
This season will also see the introduction of the first designer Fashion Installations, a new presentation format where the runway will be replaced by stationary models wearing garments in static shows that will allow guests to view the pieces in detail up close. Designers that will be involved with this new format include Clive Rundle, Albertus Swanepoel, Naked Ape, Palse Homme and Tiaan Nagel.
Designers from the Edgars X SAFW Designer Capsule Collections will also feature in the line-up. Just, Kottin & Twille, SIES! isabelle, Gert-Johan Coetzee and Two, among others.
The inaugural Lufthansa First Best Collections – a new platform to introduce young entrepreneurs to design a collection with the focus on creativity and workmanship – will see the unveiling of collections developed around the idea of South Africa’s unique diversity.
Lufthansa will give the winning designer the opportunity to attend the Berlin Fashion Week in Germany in July 2013. – Lindsay Ord
* A group of local Durban, selected by the KwaZulu-Natal Fashion Council (KZNFC), will be lighting up the ramp and hopefully bagging some orders at SA Fashion Week in Johannesburg.
The eight designers will show garments at the prestigious fashion showcase in the KZNFC show on Friday April 12, thanks to a partnership between the KZNFC and eThekwini Municipality’s Business Support, Tourism and Markets Unit.
Five designers will show their work on the ramp, while three will have displays in the Buyers’ Lounge, that attracts international and local buyers and fashion media.
The ramp designers are Haroun Hansrot, Kujula Mtambo, Nishai Sookdhew and Jacqueline Munsami. Vijay Shah, a jewellery designer, will produce customised jewellery to accessorise their ranges.
Nicole Hoyer, Sandile Mlambo and Nkosivumile Mhlungo will be in the Buyers’ Lounge, hopefully providing them with access to markets through buyers and retailers.
Sookdhew is proof that this happens – at SAFW last September her showing in the lounge resulted in her supplying the Edgars X Collection.
All designers have been selected to participate at SAFW as part of the KZNFC’s Market Access Programme and they are being mentored by established designers and fashion school principals, Priscilla Bhika and Lindiwe Kuzwayo.
The senior designer of the group, Hansrot, says his collection will be unlike anything he has done before.
“I have ombréd silk satin, laser cut fabric and superimposed it on another fabric,” he said.
Another part of his collection features embroidery from India that is teamed with African beading. His range is sexy and romantic he says, speaking of the 50 Shades of Lilac theme, which moves from lilac to almost purple to portray love at first sight, incorporating feathers and Swarovski crystals.
Munsami is excited about her range.
“It will comprise soft delicate fabrics with a mix of crisp linens and cottons, pretty lace trims and silks,” she says. Her range will start with neutral and black pencil dresses, followed by a garden party theme and cosmic print metallic numbers.
Sookdhew’s Blaklisted luxury-themed range is for the socialite who loves to play dress up and feel sexy in doing so.
The KZNFC was established by eThekwini Municipality’s Economic Development Unit and KZN Department of Economic Development and Tourism to support the fashion design sector.
* SAFW will take place at the Crowne Plaza, Rosebank, Johannesburg from April 10 to 15 and the KZNFC ramp show is on Friday, April 12 at 7pm. The Buyers’ Lounge will be on April 14 and 15.
KZNFC enquiries: Shavera Sayed: [email protected] or 031 825 8569. See also www.kznfc.co.za or www.safashionweek.co.za. - Daily News