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Dressing to impress
South African designers in the spotlight
A David Tlale statement, Cape Town Fashion Week 2011
© AFI/SDR/CTFW 2011
Did you know?
Soweto style-setters, the Smarteez, have been feted for their colourful, vintage-meets-new street-savvy fashion.
South African designers in the spotlight, and those hoping to be, know that breaking into the competitive world of fashion isn’t easy. But with talent and determination, anything is possible.
Just ask fashion designer David Tlale, whose attitude and talent keeps everyone talking. His vibrant glamour on the runway and his constructed catwalk on the Nelson Mandela Bridge are really turning heads.
Up and coming South African designer, Joel Janse van Vuuren had SA Fashion Week abuzz with his elegant gowns, and we can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.
Though Suzaan Heyns is not a newcomer to fashion, she is a South African designer to watch out for. Heyn’s stand-alone shop in Melville, Johannesburg, has garnered her more followers as she showcases her avant-garde apparel in minimalist surroundings.
More South African designers in the spotlight are Soweto-based collective, the Smarteez. They had a huge impact on local fashion long before they presented their first collection at SA Fashion Week 2011. Their range has earned them international praise, so expect to see a retail outlet soon.
Also from Soweto, Lesego Malatsi's rags-to-riches story has seen the young design talent not only found the Mzansi Designers Emporium, but his collections have appeared at London Fashion Week. And Richard Branson is a fan.
Newcomer Kutloano Molokomme’s dresses are completely unique. Just ask singer Lindiwe Suttle - one of his muses. Cocoon-like and sexy, he has already been asked to provide his line to one of the major retailers, Foschini.
Two Clothing , consisting of the sisters, Caren and Gina Waldman, are on the up and up as they consistently produce comfortable, yet feminine clothing that has a cult following.
David West disappeared from the scene for a while, but has rejoined it to open his own store in Long Street, Cape Town, packed with his sweet but minimalist aesthetic. He was named one of Mail & Guardian’s Top 200 young South Africans in 2011.
These are just some designers, among many, whose garments you might want to start adding to your wardrobe.
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
Suzaan Heyns
Tel: +27 (0)11 482 9301
Email: info@suzaanheyns.com
Joel Janse van Vuuren
Mobile: +27 (0)73 772 3059
Email: info@joeljansevanvuuren.com
David Tlale
Tel: +27 (0)11 403 0123
Email: studio@davidtlale.com
Two
Tel: +27 (0)11 447 7508
Mobile: +27 (0)83 295 1111
David West
Mobile: +27 (0)76 688 0654
Email: info@davidwest.co.za
Smarteez
Email: smarteez@ymail.com
Mzansi Designers
Tel: + 27 (0)11 336 8935
Fax + 27 (0)11 336 8936
Email: Lesego.malatsi@mzansidesigners.co.za