The inaugural ARISE Africa Fashion Week is taking place in Egoli, the place of gold, so it's fitting that on its opening night there is a collection showcasing the continent's rich mineral wealth.
In L'or d'Afrique by AuDITIONS, carats of gold will adorn the models as they sashay down the catwalk in garments specially created by local fashion designer Suzaan Heyns.
Mark Pool, AngloGold Ashanti's marketing manager and the creative director of AuDITIONS, says they have brought together select pieces from their Gold Couture Collections, which formed part of their global jewellery design competition.
AuDITIONS is the world's largest gold jewellery design competition, which is changing the face of gold couture in Brazil, China, India, the Middle East and South Africa.
Pool says that they have done fashion shows before, but feels this particular one is unique.
"African Fashion International (AFI) approached us and wanted us to do something for this inaugural event," says Pool. "Gold has a rich tradition and history in Africa, so together with AFI, we were keen to add to this tradition as a fashion piece of design. What's also unique about this particular show is that we are covering more of our collections than in the past."
The concept of the show, Pool adds, brings together various skin tones of Africa.
"First, we start with fair-skinned models and make a transition to those who are pale white, and then end with your West African skin tones," explains Pool.
As the models move in transition with skin colour, so too do the garments, he adds. Each of the models will be wearing gold pieces paired with garments chosen specifically for them. At least 30 gold couture pieces are being shown.
These precious baubles are drawn from a potpourri of collections, some of which are entitled the Fire range, Four Seasons and Living Textures. The latter is a range that was inspired by organic elements viewed from both a macro and microscopic perspective, says Pool. They celebrate nature's textures, such as those found in flowers, seed pods or the cellular make-up of leaves.
Pool says the garments, the other big element of the show, take their influence from the French period of Marie Antoinette.
Heyns was chosen to design the garments because she works well with silhouettes, Pool says.
"Her clothing is fairly detailed, layered and textured," he adds. "She's taken the French inspiration and melded that with an African notion to present an overall visual which we think is an excellent fusion of African and 18th-century French design."
A closer look at the silhouettes of both the Marie Antoinette era and African woman, such as those from Ghana, who wrap fabrics around their shoulders and behinds, provided a starting point for her garments, says Heyns.
"Both are almost similar in their exaggerated posterior, shoulders and bust styles."
The lack of prints in her line is in keeping with the concept of the show, says Heyns, as models will wear colours that are almost exact matches to their skin tones.
"It's all about making the gold stand out, and we're just complementing the gold with fashion," she says.
"Each scene is different. It begins with whimsical and romantic designs, and then it progresses to quite avant-garde pieces," Heyns adds. "The jewels are really the main star of the show."
This showcase of the continent's leading fashion designers is being held at the Sandton Convention Centre from today until June 20.
It is an eight-day celebration of the aesthetic and unique design signature of African fashion, with 51 designers from 21 countries participating.
It is put on by African Fashion International, organisers of the Joburg, Cape Town and Durban Fashion Weeks, which says it is the very first African fashion week and is set to become an annual event.
The L'or d'Afrique by AuDITIONS show starts at 7.15pm today and tickets cost R150. Book through Computicket.
Information on the designers participating, and a schedule of all shows, is on the AFI website, africanfashioninternational.com