Cape Town - Chu Suwannapha has been involved in working in the fashion industry for more than 25 years and despite being dubbed “The Prince of Prints”, his foray as a designer is recent.
This is the second year his label Chulaap has launched a collection, this time the Winter/Autumn 2016 menswear collection. It is titled “Make Art Not War”. According to Suwannapha, Chulaap’s ethos is about celebrating Africa.
“I want to give back to South Africa. I noticed that many designers tend to be very conceptual in their work, or focus on international trends. What you see is what you get with Chulaap.
“There are elements of cool inspired by street style and the clothes need to be wearable. I like to let the designs speak for themselves,” he says.
The result is bright African-inspired prints in multi-layers of textures, such as silk, tweed and wool. The collection is a combination of knits, layered on top cotton African prints, all in striking bold colours. In just two years, Chulaap’s signature style is defined, textures on textures and print on print with a retro and vintage look. He also uses Basotho blankets.
Suwannapha drew inspiration from the Instagram account of three brothers behind Joburg-based photographic collective, I See A Different You, who celebrate South African and African culture in their images.
As an example, Suwannapha says that the camouflage knit he designed is inspired from their images of the landscapes and the Lesotho mountains layered on top of each other. In another image, when the brothers are on the streets of Ghana, there is a stark contrast to the nature of their Lesotho photos.
“It is purely street, you see burnt cars and black smoke. So for me, the concept of this collection is ‘Unconventional Military’.”
The collection also draws oriental inspiration, with the prints of tigers featuring on a few garments repeatedly.
Suwannapha says he always incorporates South African designers into his work.
This time, the felt hats were by Simon & Mary, and the backpacks and earphones were by Pichulik. All the perspex and bullets pins are from Rings and Things.
Originally from Thailand, but now in Cape Town, Chulaap works as the fashion director behind lifestyle magazines such as You, Huisgenoot and Drum Magazine.
l Pre-orders for the collection can be done through Suwanannapha’s Instagram account @ChuSuwannapha or online at www.oxosi.com
Atiyyah Khan, Weekend Argus
Pictures: SDR Photo