Cape Town Fashion Week

The fifth Cape Town Fashion Week hit the ramps recently with a typically South African (i.e. complicated...) approach to fashion. From traditional African to the shamelessly Eurocentric, switching between collections was often like hopping between continents... However, a number of designers are starting to break through by fusing local influences and materials with an international approach - and this is where the fun (and future) lies for South African fashion.

The opening showcase, C'est Couture, perhaps illustrates the new school of SA design best, featuring four young Joburg based labels that have recently exhibited in Paris (hence the Gallic title): David Tlale, Funduzi, Thabani Mavundla and Thula Sindi. All of these labels mix internationalized production techniques with local materials (ostrich skin for example) and style (spend a night out in a high-class Joburg joint and you'll see why Thula Sindi's ultra glam micro frocks are going to win fans locally).

Laidback local Capetonian designers Stiaan Louw and Maya Prass (who share the same studio space) are also hitting the mark, although in a far more mellow way than their brasher Joburg peers. These two are rapidly winning fans amongst visiting international media and both share a talent for colour combination, clever layering and subtle use of graphics.

South Africa is now well out of its first decade in its new globally friendly incarnation and the local fashion industry is starting to hit its more interesting (and probably painful) adolescent years with an almost scary enthusiasm.

Click play below to view Cest Couture a video from Cape Town Fashion Week.

Click here to view more images from Maya Prass's SS08 show


Click here to view more images from Stiaan Louw's SS08 show