Cape Town - Fashion and jazz music have been interwoven for decades. But for the first time, fashionistas and jazz-lovers are being asked to make a “jazz-fashion” statement by wearing proudly South African clothing to the 15th Cape Town International Jazz Festival.
Thousands are expected to gather for the annual two-day live music extravaganza this weekend and the event’s organiser, espAfrika, is encouraging festival-goers or “festinos” to wear locally designed clothes.
One of the major highlights is that all the clothing memorabilia for the event has been sourced locally.
The “wear local” or “wear South African” drive is the brainchild of the South African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (Sactwu), the country’s largest trade union in the clothing, textile, footwear and leather (CTFL) industry, aimed at shining a spotlight on the importance of buying locally produced goods.
”The jazz festival has positioned itself as the premier event, not only in Cape Town, but in South Africa. And it prides itself on focusing on and promoting local talent. It’s the perfect platform to showcase locally produced apparel,” says Sactwu spokesman Fachmy Abrahams.
The “wear South African” initiative has been part of the union’s campaign to save thousands of jobs in the CTFL industry since the early 1990s to address the issues of imports into the country.
“About 100 000 jobs were lost due to the influx of imports when our borders opened in the beginning of a democratic South Africa. Since then, the number of imports coming into the country has been hard to police.”
The “wear local” campaign at the jazz festival is an effort to promote local fashion. “The more people wear local clothes, the more retailers will be forced to buy and stock locally produced goods”.
Taking on the challenge of showing how “festinos” can look effortlessly jazzy and fashionable at the festival, are young Cape Town designers Kim Gush, Julia M’Poko and Ernest Mahomane.
The trio will showcase their jazz-inspired designs on Friday during an intimate evening at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), titled “Fashion and all that Jazz”. Local jazz acts such as Shakatak, and Jimmy Nevis will serenade guests while they enjoy dinner.
The Cape Argus had a chance to catch up with Elle Rising Star 2013 finalist M’Poko at her home in the city, while she was putting the finishing touches to her garments. The Cape Town College of Fashion Design graduate says being chosen to showcase at Fashion and all that Jazz feels very “surreal”.
“It’s a very special occasion for me as a lot of designers won’t get an opportunity like this,” she says. “It’s a lot of pressure and nerve-racking, but a learning curve as well”.
M’Poko will show seven garments from her brand “Julienne” – that speaks to “confident, strong and sexy women who want to look as glamorous in the office as on a night out,” she says.
Expect clean lines, feminine hues of whites and blues, and fabrics such as leather, upholstery, mohair and silks.
M’Poko says her collection was inspired by the jacaranda trees she saw while driving in her home town, Pretoria, while the illustrations on her fabrics are inspired by her love for African prints.
“I’m obsessed with African prints. They symbolise the strength and beauty of African women,” she says.
“People are slowly, but surely buying local brands as they start to realise that we have so much to offer and there is no need to go overseas.”
Catering for different markets, M’Poko has two versions of her brand. One is toned down and made of affordable material such as cotton, while the other involves luxury fabrics such as silk and chiffon. - Cape Argus
l The Fashion and all that Jazz event will be held on March 27 in the Ballroom at the CTICC. Tickets cost R500 each, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.capetownazzfest.com