Nicolette Dirk
CLOTHING creations by local designers were back in the spotlight at the three-day South African Menswear Week which ended at the weekend.
“The talent of our designers is incredible and it’s all here,” said South African Menswear Week co-founder Simon Deiner.
“By bringing more focus on menswear week, we can focus attention on this industry. At this event the standard of the designs, such as the beautiful jackets by Simon Deporres or the more conceptual designs from Richard Mnisi, shows consumers don’t have to buy imported brands.”
It was all lights, camera, action for the South African designers and those from other parts of Africa who showcased their talents at the event, held at Cape Town Stadium.
Menswear Week, which is the continent’s only platform to promote menswear in Africa, included designer brands such as Palse Homme and Kim Gush.
Young designer and Imprint Fashion brand founder Mzukisi Mbane, 26, showcased his unique designs of prints and fabrics.
“My collection’s theme is about ‘our roots’. I am an African raised in Khayelitsha and it was where I found inspiration. But for this season my collection was focused on a theme everyone can relate to – our mothers. Mine was a strong woman who I can thank for who I am today,” he said.
International designer Chu Suwannapha, one of the special guests, and is known as the prince of prints for his “prints and colourful dress code”.
Some of the interesting showcases at a session on Friday included Projecto Mental, by the design duo Tekasala Ma’at Nzinga and Shaunnoz Fiel.
Nzinga, who hails from Angola, said Projecto Mental was an Angolan brand which has been around for 12 years and this was its third show in South Africa.
“Fashion should be represented differently and we have taken this concept across the world for the past few years. We’ve been to Tokyo, New York and countries across Europe,” he said.
The young designer said he tried to steer away from clothing based on trends and focused more on a style that inspired his heart.
“Menswear is really growing in Africa and through our African brand we hope we can push this trend forward,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union said the latest Stats SA Quarterly Employment Survey showed that employment levels in clothing, textile, footwear and leather sectors have increased.
“This comes after a period of stabilisation following years of job losses. Employment in our industry appears poised for growth,” Sactwu general secretary André Kriel said.
The survey showed a 1.5 percent year-to-year increase in the number of employees across the sectors from March 2014 to March 2015.