The SA Fashion Week SS16 Collections – Part 2: The Lufthansa 1st Best Collections
Words by Ludwig Spies
Photography by Simone Oranje
The common problem with fashion writing is that we either overlook the most brilliantly conceived and painstakingly produced elements of a collection – or we ramble on, praising, criticising, fainting and gasping to a point where it’s no longer clear whether we’re talking about coats, shoes or an obscure branch of 19th Century philosophy.
So we set ourselves this challenge for the SAFW SS16 Collections: reveal the essence of each collection – in less than 50 words.
Lumin SS16
A severely chic collection perfect for Ibiza, Camps Bay or a space odyssey. The goggle-lens sunglasses, geometric cuts and pragmatic shoes harked back to Pierre Cardin’s retrofuturistic revolution and the day that video killed the radiostar.
Somerset Jane SS16
Tighter, New Look shoulders and magnificent volumes of fabric that envelop the lower half of the wearer created a powerful but calm look. The proportions are perfectly constructed in the tradition of modern womenswear that originated in the previous century.
Heart & Heritage SS16
A dainty, romantic collection selected as the winner of the Lufthansa 1st Best Collections. Light strings and airy bows, flowy ribbons and jaunty, flaring seams created a tranquil femininity.
Greerkyle SS16
The earnest aesthetic of this collection was somewhat unexpected among its counterparts. The sober cuts, faded palette and hints of utility wear and uniforms remind the viewer of post-war practicality and working women from Sophiatown, c. 1960.
T’Niche SS16
Successful experimentation with layers and transparency create an otherworldly collection that drapes on the wearer. Fabric is collected together in one area and spills and billows in another.
