Sasha Baron Cohen’s bluesteel
He’s done it again and pushed his cheeky sense of humour where no others would tread. We particularly love his bluesteel facial expression that reminds us of a few snotty fashionfanglers from around the way… Isn’t it incredible that in one simple move he rips open the fashion show concept and exposes it’s gory superficiality. The outfit is outrageous. Check out the story here. Brilliant. British actor Sacha Baron Cohen appears on the catwalk during the Agatha Ruiz De La Prada Spring/Summer 2009 women’s collection during Milan Fashion Week September 26, 2008. Baron Cohen, best known for his eccentric character Borat, burst onto the catwalk at Agatha Ruiz De La Prada’s show in Milan on Friday, bringing it to a halt as security guards stepped...
Represent Review: Fashion is good for the Soul
Our Fashion Fundi Vincent Zondo attended the Old Mutual Soul Sessions last week and resoundingly rates it an official ‘must attend’. Some people foolishly believe fashion can get by on talent alone, a good small-business understanding is PARAMOUNT to creating a profitable, growing brand – aha, lightbulb moment? don’t say we didn’t try to convince you otherwise… Durbanites and Port Elizabethans, you still have a chance to catch the sessions: While sporting the ultimate “it” bag from GUCCI – Betty Suarez (from the hit TV series – UGLY BETTY) said, “Fashion is GOOD for the soul”. Staying true to this statement is the Old Mutual Soul Sessions’ which is my MUST attend event for all the soul providers, designer’s, fashionistas and young entrepreneurs this pre-Spring. I personally love this time of the year because the fashion industry is buzzing and dishing out plates of excitement, glamour and cutting edge designs that keep us perched on the edge of our front row seats. It’s an absolute bloom of all things fabulous, new fashion trends, the discovery of that all-new designer with the potential to take the industry to new heights or secure our Fashion on the global map. The Joburg Fashion Week hit us three weeks ago, Virgin Mobile Cape Town fashion week took place last week and I am so looking forward to the Sanlam Fashion week this coming week. And while all these events carry fresh talent, piping hot trends and chic designs, I recently unearthed a new gem in the basket, and it has the potential to inject much-needed fashion business sense into this industry. The-Venue in Melrose Arch saw the dawn of the much anticipated Old Mutual Soul Session (which we profiled last week) and the experience was beyond measure. This exceptional event shed some light into the path of success like no other that I have witnessed before. Speakers like Pie Pacifique shared the most intimate details of how they got to the top; what stood out for me here were the benefits our designers could gain, and most importantly the power of the human spirit in testing times – post this session I truly felt that the potential to survive this cut-throat arena is very much within reach. And when Sonwabile Ndamase exposed us to some of his newly discovered proteges from his fashion awards event – the crowd raved through the roof at the potential of these young designers. Young designers have been observing the innovators of our growing fashion industry and this inspiration plus the combination of talent, hard-work as well as essential business savvy skills required, will ensure success for their...
A Soulful event for designers & fashionistas alike
So the question remains, how on earth do we make money from our art? Represent’s resident fashion fundi Vincent Zondo reckons part of the magic formula is a robust PR and marketing plan. He lets us in on a must-attend event (THIS SATURDAY in Jozi) for everyone and their muse working in the fashion and clothing industry, the OldMutual SoulSessions, taking place this weekend in Jozi and then in Durban and PE in the following two weeks. Click here for more info and make sure to pay the very affordable price to get the lowdown on getting your genius out there. Represent! Last year at Fashion Week, in between all things fashionable – I managed to catch Chris Viljoen – ELLE magazine’s Fashion Director to get his view on the shows, designers and collections that we had just seen. The (important) fact I wanted to probe was his opinion on how our local fashion designers faired compared to international designers, particularly on the business side of the trade. Chris represents true international fashion exposure, I mean, thanks to him and ELLE (The bible) we got a glimpse of some of the hot-off-the-ramps trends that graced Paris fashion week, nice! His response highlighted the realities facing South African fashion designers and entrepreneurs alike…how to make a business out of fashion. Now, fashion designers and fashionistas…do Pay attention here: “Our designers have a long way to go when compared to fashion houses like Marc Jacobs, Paul Smith, Gucci or Prada and other independent designers internationally as they operate as mobile brands” said Chris. I concur. I think that the success formula has to include independent designers acquiring a Publicist that goes all out to ensure consistent media exposure, you know, the experienced marketing types with ties strong enough to hook up unique brand opportunities – whether its dressing Halle Berry to the Oscars or Paris Hilton for that hugely publicised VIP event; a continuous efforts is made get the designer’s brands to attain some form of association with that ‘glam space’ of fabulous fashion. Hence I say their approach to fashion and business is far more advanced than ours (which is still in it’s teens?). Also most noticeable about these designers is that they know just how to network, are super business savvy and good at working opportunities that can help them get ahead of the pack. This is FASHION and competition is always cut-throat – the work doesn’t stop when fashion week ends. A step in the right direction – here’s how. Now, as much as we are all aware that we have some catching up to do and the...
Black Coffee debut at Cape Town FW
At last, Cape Townians will get to soak up and savour the superb lines of the Jozi-based Black Coffee fashion favourite’s Spring/Summer collection at this years Cape Town Fashion Week, hurry up and buy your tickets to the show as last we heard, it’s brimming! Cape Town Fashion Week 13-16 August 2008. African Fashion International and Virgin Mobile are very proud to announce that celebrated designers Jacques van der Walt and partner Dannica Lepen’s Black Coffee label will make its Cape Town fashion debut on Saturday 16th August at Virgin Mobile Cape Town Fashion Week. The cutting edge label will now present its Spring/Summer collection in a stand alone show at 7pm on the last day of Virgin Mobile Cape Town Fashion Week. “Unprecedented demand this year has placed a major strain on the supply of tickets at all shows during the week, and the surprise announcement of the Black Coffee debut will relieve some of this pressure. Fashion pundits have come to expect Black Coffee collections that are fashion forward and completely original,” said Deon Redman, Creative Director for African Fashion International. Black Coffee’s collection will precede the appearance of British supermodel Jourdan Dunn on the runway for the closing show, the Virgin Mobile Finale, which features Thembisile Mazibuko, Suzaan Heyns and Stars of Mzansi award winner, David Tlale. “This is also exciting news for Virgin Mobile and adds to a long list of other impressive design talent showing”. “Virgin Mobile has a creamy history with Black Coffee as they designed the clothing range of our sassy advertising photography and we are always amazed by their level of creativity and attention to detail. Superlative stuff!”, said Nicholas Maweni of Virgin Mobile. The Saturday schedule for Virgin Mobile Cape Town Fashion Week is now as follows: * 18h00 Love Water Love * 19h00 Virgin Mobile presents Black Coffee * 20h00 Maya Prass * 21h30 Virgin Mobile...
Six Young Designers Battle it out
Fashion Weeks are supposed to be the breeding ground for the new wave of designers coming through the ranks, as well as the platform where we, the adoring public, get to see young designers mature and move on up through snotty after parties to fame and glory. That’s why it’s great to see initiatives like the ELLE New Talent Awards that actively seek out the hottest young creatives in fashion and give them the support they need to get seen. Six finalists were chosen from a pool of 50, as ELLE magazine in partnership with top fashion value retailer, Mr Price, narrowed the search for this year’s hottest new fashion talent during the ELLE New Talent Awards 2008 first phase of judging. Marize Malan, Robyn de Klerk, Tanya Demby, Anisa Ami Mpungwe, Stephan Marin and Khumo Mashimane made the cut and will showcase their designs at the 2008 Sanlam South African Fashion Week (SAFW) ELLE New Talent show on 27 August 2008. The final judging takes place on the 26th August. The six finalists will also get an opportunity to exhibit their work during the SAFW which ends on 30 August. The competition, open to recently qualified designers, exposed some very good talent according to one of the judges, trend analyst, Dion Chang. The designers had to create a women’s wear collection of eight garments for Summer 2008/9 under the theme New Romance. “It was pleasing to see fresh ideas and the different interpretations of romance,” Chang said The ELLE New Talent Awards 2008 will for the first time this year give the winner an opportunity to be exposed to the full retail cycle through a mentorship programme with Mr Price. “There was a lot of exciting, innovative and creative work coming through and we have no doubt that there is great new design potential in this country,” said Joanne Coelho, Trend Manager for Mr Price, who also judged the awards. The competition has in past years brought to the fore talented local up-and-coming young design talent in the South Africa fashion industry. Previous winners of ELLE New Talent include: David Tlale, Frances Andrews (Library label) and last year’s winner Tiaan...
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