Showcase of talent

Published May 26, 2015

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Meneesha Govender

Top South African designers and their African peers were invited by the Department of Arts and Culture to celebrate Africa Month.

The #WeAreAfrica Fashion Spectacular took place at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban this weekend, and the talent on display did not fail to wow the audience.

The strong fashion component in the #WeAreAfrica programme is in recognition of the powerful African fashion culture that has developed over the years.

Through the platform of fashion the programme aims to promote peace, friendship and integration on the continent.

The aim is that the programme will become a launch pad for many of the country’s greatest fashion success stories.

Produced by SA Fashion Week, the #WeAreAfrica Fashion Spectacular showcased a combination of African designs on the ramp as well as in an exhibition that featured jewellery, millinery, footwear, handbags, craft and textiles.

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YEFIKIR, ETHIOPIA: Fikirte Addis is a young, emerging designer from Addis Ababa. She creates cultural everyday wear in Ethiopia. Yefikir Design was launched in 2009. Since then, it has been showcased at fashion events in Addis Ababa, including the Hub of Africa Fashion Week. Every home in Ethiopia has a loom, in every home someone weaves cloth. Yefikir Design is mainly known for turning this fabric into tailored-made and fashionable designs without losing its cultural touch for the modern day women. Fikirte says: ‘It is important for me not to lose the connection I have to my culture, just giving it a modern twist and bringing it to the international fashion arena.’ The main fabrics used in all her designs are handmade cotton and the designs are to give comfort with style. Fikirte gets her inspiration from the Ethiopian culture and vibrant environment to reflect the everyday life of the people.

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8TH WANDA, DURBAN: Nokwanda Ngcobo is a Durban-based fashion designer who has gone from strength to strength since she graduated from DUT with a national diploma in Fashion Technology. After studying further, she gained more skills, before starting her own clothing label (Wanda Woman). In 2013, she won the David Tlale Extravaganza Internship, in partnership with the KZN Department of Economic Development and Tourism. This made her part of the assisting team for David Tlale in New York Fashion Week. She is now back in Durban, and has relaunched herself as Nokwanda of 8th Wanda Designs.

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HOMBRÉ, DURBAN: Vanessa Pillay has been designing and working in the clothing industry for almost 28 years. She launched Hombré in 2013, using the platform to encourage the public to support the Shepherd’s Keep home for abandoned babies living with HIV and Aids. ‘My aim is to use my talents and skills as a fashion designer to give back to my community,’ she says.

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YADAH, ESTCOURT: Thembeka Vilakazi launched Yadah Exclusive Designs in 2005. The brand focuses on timeless-classic design that meets contemporary African flair.

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DUKE CLOTHE YO SOUL, DURBAN: As a self-trained designer, the most challenging issue for Sandile Duke Mngadi in establishing himself is the fact that he is not always given a chance because he didn’t study at a design school. Through sheer grit, Mngadi has created a name for himself, the highlight being a fashion design internship in Milan last year.

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CHARTHU BY MIKE NARAINSAMY, DURBAN: Mike Narainsamy began his career working for his father’s Durban-based tailoring business in the 1970s. Today he is an established designer in the fashion industry with the Narainsamy label. The ‘Charthu’ label was launched at the SA Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2015 Collections.

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IamISIGO, NIGERIA: Based in Ghana and Nigeria, iamISIGO seeks to create an awareness of how African culture can be fused with an audacious, but yet minimal design aesthetic.

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AMANDA LAIRD CHERRY, DURBAN: What’s a Durban fashion event without Amanda Laird Cherry – one of South Africa’s most established designers. An artist and storyteller, her narrative is shared through cloth and thread.

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