Durban designers set to illuminate

Published Mar 8, 2012

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Ranges from four Durban designers will light up the runway at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Johannesburg, on Friday courtesy of the KwaZulu-Natal Fashion Council (KZNFC) Market Access Programme.

Trade and Investment KZN (TIKZN) have thrown their full weight behind the designers and the KZNFC by coming on board as a major sponsor of the show.

Established designers Karen Monk-Klijnstra and Kathrin Kidger will join newcomers, Genna-Wae Webster and Siyethemba Ngwenya, to present some distinctive collections at the three-day fashion event that attracts international attention.

After a rigorous selection process, these designers cracked the nod to be part of the Fab Four and were mentored by fashion stalwarts Gary Halfpenny and Fashion Council chairman, Greg Wallis.

Of course, they are keeping their collections under wraps prior to the show but were happy to provide some hints about what lovers of fashion could expect.

Genna-Wae Webster will be presenting a lingerie collection. Her brand, Wae West, offers not just lingerie, but items that can translate into red carpet glamour items or spicy cocktail numbers.

“I do not conform to the regular expectations of lingerie,” she says. “A little playful, inspiring and sensual with a pinch of mischief is a good way to describe the collection. Brightly coloured prints and kitsch fabrics make it bold, but the silhouettes keep it sassy and celebrate a woman’s shape.”

She praised the role of the KZNFC.

“Aside from the brainstorming, my mentors have pushed me to go far beyond my comfort zone, taking on fits, construction and designs that exceed my usual thought processes.”

Karen Monk-Klijnstra’s inspiration is driven by “the amazing and eclectic mix of culture in this country”, and in what is believed to be a world first for a fashion week will feature garments in a fabric made from cork.

“I am creating threads for a global tribe. It’s colourful, inspiring and imaginative. I am merging street-style with haute couture and transcending racial boundaries. The cork fabric was flown in from Portugal in the nick of time to be added into the collection. This will ensure an avant garde edge to my style and be sure to turn heads.”

Siyethemba Ngwenya who owns Ceeye’s Fashion Studio in Durban will present a fresh and edgy menswear collection where shape and structure provide the perfect fit.

Slim-fit pants and a dropped crotch will provide a baggy look, tapered at the bottom. Matt fabrics include lanvins, meltons and cottons, while heavyweight denims are specifically washed to provide the right effect.

Kathrin Kidger’s range is about crisp linens, treated chiffons, light peach skins and metallic elements in an earthy colour palette.

“The silhouettes are clean-cut, elegant and classic, with an understated hint of luxury,” she explains.

The KZNFC is a Not for Profit Company that was established through a strategic partnership by the eThekwini Municipality’s Economic Development Unit and the KZN Department of Economic Development and Tourism to support the fashion design sector in KwaZulu-Natal. The sector is supported from an economic perspective to encourage job creation, sustainable businesses and competitiveness on a national and global level. The Signature Life hotel group has sponsored the designers’ accommodation in Johannesburg.

l Other Durban designers participating in shows during the three-day run are lingerie designer Dax Martin and Leigh Schubert.

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