Cape Town - Innovative fashion designer David Tlale sped on to the unfinished freeway in a topless Mercedes-Benz with his showstopping model in the passenger seat, hooting proudly in what proved to a be a very fitting end to a spectacular Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Cape Town 2013.
The venue for Tlale’s show was a well-kept secret in the weeks leading up to the annual showcase of local designers’ spring/summer collections – not least because of the hype created after last year’s excursion into the Bo Kaap, where models strutted on Rose Street with large rollers in their hair.
The answer to the secret was finally revealed on Saturday August 10 when guests were offloaded on to the unfinished bridge above Western Boulevard in Green Point. The weather played ball as they lined up in the sun on rows of chairs along the road, which gave everyone a front-row seat.
In typical dramatic style, minutes before the show, one of the Tlale models was escorted across the bridge concealed in a billowing black sheet, spiking curiosity, but also adding to the exclusive, private atmosphere created in a very public spot.
Burundian dancers banged drums balanced on their heads, heralding Tlale’s spring/summer offerings.
Mostly a menswear range, it featured unusual items including a sleeveless, collared, backless shirt, a floor-length shirt, a backless waistcoat and a skort. His palette was white, orange, gold and black.
Tlale’s showstopper was a black dress with floor-length shoulder tassels to complement the blue-faced model’s equally long hair.
It was a fitting final-day event for a fabulous Fashion Week following a jam-packed Friday night line-up.
The evening opened with a series of shared slots, with Non-European, the work of Tarien and Louis Erasmus, taking to the ramp in a range of toned-down colours that talked to Tarien’s farm-style upbringing.
The couple are expecting a baby girl, and Tarien promised there would be “a lot more children’s wear” in the future.
Another show worth mentioning was Spilt Milk, which went all out to entertain the crowd with a circus theme, highlighting monochrome with bright red accents to rival the biggest, boldest big top.
Alma van den Berg, the founder and designer of the label, likes to be daring and unconventional on the runway, and this season her presentation included a ringmaster and a tightrope walker.
Her materials included 11m of robe and 400 black balloons to make jackets.
Lo, meanwhile, is the work of designer Elzanne Louw, who presented an ocean-inspired range featuring plenty of shimmer for her first Cape Town fashion week.
One of her stand-out pieces was a reversible jacket with big pockets.
The four-day showcase ended with a show from menswear chain Fabiani, which presented a yachting holiday-inspired range.
Earn your fashion stripes
Following the trends in European Spring/Summer 2013 collections, our local designers have decreed that the upcoming warmer months in South Africa will see the arrival of a host of elements, including monochrome, bright colours, patterns, prints, nautical and natural themes.
Most prominent on the runway at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Cape Town was monochrome, featured by most of the designers and labels in offerings from Habits, Stefania Morland, Spilt Milk, Danielle Margaux and Adriaan Kuiters.
Statement stripes also featured prominently in various interpretations – vertical or horizontal, black and white, blue and white and, interestingly, in the form of triangles from Durban designer Leigh Schubert.
But spring and summer wouldn’t be anything without colour, and this year there were blues (navy and royal), burnt and sunset oranges, earthy/natural tones of brown, grass green and beige, mustard yellow, along with bright pinks and reds.
Then there are the florals always associated with spring – and the good news that it’ll be okay to mix clashing prints (strategically). Colour blocking and prints can be combined, and you have the option of either going very big and very bold, or just keeping it simple and minimalistic.
Prints on the runway included florals, checks, birds, trees and art-inspired graphics.
According to swimwear designer Dax Martin, African-inspired prints have been heavily featured overseas, so we should “take it back” and “own it”.
For women, shift and babydoll dresses and tunics seem to be bringing back a touch of the 1960s.
Many designers also provided some sparkle in the form of beads, sequins and flashes of metallics.
Mother, daughter design duo
It was a fitting tribute to Women’s Day when Shana Morland, daughter of well-known local fashion darling Stefania Morland, made her Fashion Week debut.
On Friday night the mother and daughter showcased their individual ranges at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, with Shana coming out twice – first for her own range Queue, and then again for her mother’s Stefania Morland spring/summer collection.
The women both have shops on Kloof Street, Stefania high up and Shana further down with her store Cloth and Steel.
Shana, 24, has been working on designs with her mother since 2005, when she was still in high school. She studied fashion at CPUT, and has been working officially with her mother since 2010.
In 2011 Shana started her own label with business partner Robbi Gorelick.
“I always wanted to make a name for myself,” she told Weekend Argus. “I have different designs to my mother. I’m younger, but this is any-age wear, more like street wear.”
The mother and daughter team have also taken on Joburg together, opening their Stefania Morland and Shana store at the BluBird Shopping Centre in Birnam in June.
Stefania said of her daughter’s work: “I am proud and excited. Her clothes are looking wonderful.” - Weekend Argus