This year, you can check out the latest innovative fashion designs from the comfort of your couch. The world may seem like it has stopped, but the business and creativity of local fashion has continued. South African designers have been hard at work behind the scenes creating their latest collections to be showcased online for your pleasure.
The previews of Spring/Summer 2021 were shot at the Mall of Africa and will be broadcast from 29th April until 2nd May 2021. SA Fashion week is in its 23rd year running and this year, 28 designers will show their trans-seasonal collections digitally in a one-of-a-kind fashion experience.
Other events include the SAFW pop-up shop and trade show that will showcase fifty carefully curated womenswear, menswear, jewellery, millinery, footwear and accessory ranges. This will happen in a store off the Crystal Court in the Mall of Africa in Johannesburg.
Lucilla Booyzen, Director of SA Fashion Week adds “It is with deep gratitude that we thank our partners for sharing our vision and understanding the tacit power of fashion. We would like to thank them for giving us the resources, both financial and other, to continue to discover, nurture and develop the South African creative fashion industry.”
Day 1 will showcase the New Talent Search 2021 Finalists: Artho Eksteen, Fikile Sokhulu, Mc Alpine, Michael Ludwig Studio, Sipho Mbuto and Saint Vuyo. They consider fabrics that have the least impact on the environment in their timeless, trans-seasonal collection. Designers were briefed to combine contemporary shapes, styles and construction with their creative inspiration around using natural materials and sustainably sourced fabrics. Their collections highlight the idea of ‘slow-fashion’.
On the same day, you can see some of your favourite designer’s latest creations: knitwear maestros, Romaria, sophisticated Erre, edgy Chiefs of Angels, elegant Ezokhetho as well as Twyg Award winner, Lara Klawikowski (see our story on her here) as well as the glamourous doyen Black Coffee (read our SAFW retrospective including Black Coffee here).
Day 2 offers up The Diamond Fibre Collections featuring upcoming names: Judith Atelier, MmusoMaxwell and Lukhanyo Mdingi who have all forged exciting collections that use the multifaceted and luxurious fibre of mohair. Did you know that South Africa produces around half of the world’s mohair? Expect unique experimentations with textiles, celebrations of community and culture and beautifully tailored garments from these rapidly rising talents. Other collections on this day include the supremely talented Mantsho (read our story on Palesa Makubung here), androgynous-focused The Bam Collective and the supremely covetable Sober. Amanda Laird Cherry shows her latest excellently-tailored garments and the popular Rubicon has some surprises in store while industry legend Clive Rundle always has something special for us to drool over.
Day 3 promises the glam designs of Ephymol and Naked Ape as well as Throwaway Twenty, Maklele, Richard Hoy and Xavier Sedan. SAFW will also pay tribute to the late Wandi Nzimande, of Loxion Kulca, who sadly passed away from Corona this year. (Check out ASA’s story on this impactful icon too.) This year, the Loxion Kulca Collection will be designed by famed Ole Ledimo founder of ‘House of Ole’.
All in all, it’s a line-up not to be missed and you can count on ASA’s coverage to keep you in the loop.
SS21 is on from 29th April – 1st May 2021
For more information visit www.safashionweek.co.za
Purchase your tickets here: https://qkt.io/SAFWSS21
Words | Nikki Temkin @nikkitemkin
