BY DEBASHINE THANGEVELO
A FEW months ago, Ayanda Nhlapo made her mark in TV when she bagged her own show.
At 24, it was a coup for the up-and-coming fashion designer, who previously presented Corner Talks and Career Mapping on [ED].And the new show magnificently complemented her two passions: presenting and fashion. She studied dramatic arts at Joburg’s National School of the Arts, film at Boston Media House and then enrolled at the Design School of South Africa.
Where the first season was more structured, in that it was shot at LISOF and Nhlapo explored the competitive industry and also bagged interviews with the giants in the fashion world, the second instalment deviates a bit. With Jaguar Land Rover as the sponsor and Nhlapo as the Range Rover Evoque campaign ambassador, they have taken the show on the road.
Reflecting on the journey, she says: “The reception to season one was absolutely amazing. We gave people something they wanted and enjoyed. After 13 episodes, we felt it couldn’t end there. And people were asking for a second season. So we got a sponsorship. And this time, we are travelling instead of me hosting guests.
“We visit different fashion houses, get to see what it takes to make beautiful quality garments as well as the hard work that goes into a Fashion Week. We see people sketching and sewing. People can look forward to seeing big names, too.”
So who will viewers get to check out this time?
She offers: “Jacques van der Watt for the Black Coffee collection, Marianne Fassler and someone who is hot right now, among others. It’s going to be really amazing. I’m excited. It’s people I look up to as well. Unfortunately, we are just doing Gauteng because of the budget. We would love to travel Africa. It’s something we are looking at doing in the future.”
Another new aspect this season is viewers getting updates on Nhlapo’s collection. She explains: “At the end of the show (as in every episode), you see my projects and the progress of creating a collection. People get to have insight into my personal world and stage, my process and my challenges, which they didn’t have in the first season.”
The fashion industry newcomer says her colour scheme boasts lots of orange and black and white print.
“It is inspired by my Zulu culture,” she says with pride.
“I use tyres as a drop for one of the earrings in my collection, which is fun and trendy.”
She is also mindful of conservation and recycling with her work. Now as much as Ayanda: Inside Fashion offers an introduction to designers pioneering in the field, it is also a platform to introduce those trying to launch themselves.
When asked whom South Africans should look out for, Nhlapo reveals: “Rich Mnisi is doing really well. He’s slowly making a name for himself. He’s one of my special guests.”
At this stage, they haven’t homed in on which Fashion Week show they will be covering. She notes: “Things can change. It’s a matter of production organising it. But I do know we will be covering a Fashion Week; there are so many these days.”
Aside from being stylish, savvy and on the pulse of what’s going down in the fashion world, Nhlapo is trending on TV for looking at fashion from a creative and business perspective.
Ayanda: Inside Fashion airs on Monday on [ED] (DStv channel 190) and GOtv (DStv channel 65) at 6.55pm.