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...
Don’t Miss Jazz on the Lake
It’s a yearly Represent ‘favourite must-do mahala event’, Jazz at Zoo Lake, do yourself a favour, pack a picnic basket, grab your friends and go and celebrate Jozi’s 80th birthday this year on Sunday the 7th of September. We’re chuffed the line up is much improved, featuring Simphiwe Dana, Jimmy Dludlu, Don Laka and Zamajobe to name but a few… go on and Represent! (Residents included!) Read all about it at Johannesburg Tourism site here or the awesome Joburg.org site here. See our photostory on our RepresentFlickr site from Jazz at the Lake in 2005 here....
Get ready for the MAMA’s – MTV Africa!
Our dedicated scribe of the moment, Reuben ‘The Matrix’ Malema, attended the MTV press announcement of the ‘MAMA awards’, MTV’s pan-African music awards brought to you by MTV and their sponsor ZAIN (a telecommunications company…). He reckons healthy competition is the way forward to uplift and keep on diversifying and enriching our music scene, we have to admit, we agree! See our photostory at our RepresentFlickr set here. Read all about the event below – the official media release follows. Sharpile RTMM! It’s official, MTV Networks Africa is here! And if all the over-the-top hoo-hah of Tuesday night has any truth to it, then the end for the MTN SAMA Awards is definitely not nigh but rather in a very real way so resoundingly here. The setting of MTV’s “take-over-Africa” spectacle was the Japanese themed Tokyo Sky of Fourways, Johannesburg. Ja, the ambiguity was very clear: the guillotine’s blade has gut-gushingly fallen on the video-jockey controlled entertainment industry in this part of Africa! I have to admit though, with all the fine sushi, on the house liquor en masse (Double Remmie Martin and Lemonade…one more please sir!), the glitz and splendour that was blatantly flaunted, the Network has a lot of credibility and plenty to offer Africa’s musicians in sharp contrast to the MTN SAMA Awards that favours the same few artists all the time and only focuses on SA. Let us not forget the controversy-riddled quagmire of the recent MTN SAMAs which did not help the situation either, in fact if anything – this year’s SAMAs managed to quicken the event’s long awaited coup de grace. Competition is often a healthy thing and in this case it’s long overdue. The Media targeted event (Nou Ek Spog!) had the makings of a typical TRL show on MTV Base. The MC was as chirpy as all the free flowing video mouthpieces on the network’s channels. The program direction was lively with a twist of spring. The audience (le paparazzi!) was very receptive, although at one stage a tad disappointed (we’ll come back to this one…). Mr. Alex Okosi, a Nigerian born, American raised, British groomed and now South African Corporate Executive is the driving force behind MTV Africa’s no-holds-barred takeover bid. His passion and inspiring vibrancy is believable enough to prop-up one’s expectations of the fresh wave of reprieve that has at last beached on our shores. An array of Dj’s and musicians were bopping away, including Cleo, KB, boys from Skwatta Kamp and Brickz. One particular artist caught my attention, the 12 year old In-cha who is an ingenious (lest I be tempted to declare her a maestro) violinist....
The Return of the B Girl @ 88 on Friday
Fly flyers all over Jozi this weekend, must be that Spring is springing early this year. The Party People crew are already well recovered from the Oppikopi bash and ready to dish it up to you with even more flavour this Friday night with a full juicy line up of sweet sounds. They tell you as it is: “For those of you who have been living under a rock and have missed all of Bahamadia’s shows, we hope to see you there.” Word! Merely a week after performing to an immensely diverse crowd at Party People Oppikoppi, Northam on the 9th of August, and killing it I might add, the queen Bahamadia, along with her talented Dj, Dj Statik will be getting ready to bring back the real definition of the B Girl to 88 Lounge in Norwood. Sharing the stage with her will be an equally talented South Africa line up by the likes of Party People’s first lady Fifi, Miss GolDigger herself and of course what would a Hip-Hop party be without Dj Kenzhero. Catch all of this at 88 Lounge on the 15th August 2008. Doors open at 8:00pm and the damage to the pocket is R100. 00. Woman’s Month Special:Ladies R80 before 9:30. For more info on our featured artist check out...
Mawe-2 LIVE at House of NsakO
Nice flyer design from the B-side crew. We’re sure the music at House of NsakO in Brixton is going to be just as sweet this Saturday night. Just up the hill from Melville, aim for the tower then hit a right and head for the High Street ;). The B-side Party with Deejay BlaQt presents Mawe-2 ” live “… As he takes us through the soulful jazzy sounds from his debut album – titled a fools hope, So expect an explosive perfomance… with DJ BlaQt taking us through the night with some of that good music….@ House Of NsakO ( 101 High Str., Brixton Jozi town ) & R 40 bucks guarantees you a dope night out.. http//: www.myspace.com/bsideblog http//: www.myspace.com/mawe2 http//: www.mawe2.rooftopmedia.co.za http//: www.myspace.com/djblaqt Download Deejay BlaQt`s Bside mini mix …. http://www.zshare.net/audio/14680764a732b4a4/ Check the tracklisting & artwork on :...
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