The much-awaited Audi Joburg Autumn/Winter08 Fashion Week made a stylish entrance with a champagne cocktail soiree where media, celebrities and fashionistas rubbed shoulders, swigged sparkling wine with raspberries and made small talk about what they were expecting from this year’s autumn/winter collections.

Audi Joburg Fashion week is establishing itself as the platform for young designers to showcase their talent. And we’re not talking last-minute productions squeezed in after all the good shows when everyone has gone home. These designers are given prime time slots; prime catwalk space and mentorship from industry gurus before fashion week. What I love the most about the influx of fresh blood in fashion is their multicultural outlook, which translates into a global yet proudly South African aesthetic on their designs. This, for us, is the truest reflection of where Mzansi is right now - our concrete roots are firmly in our country but we are also interested in the rest of the world. That being said, however, We think there is still a long way to go in terms of young designers in SA understanding the concept of a collection and producing a show. While most designs got the avante-garde tick, very few of the young designers were able to adequately interpret winter (or autumn) into their collection or tell a story through their show.  The good thing is, as the evening progressed, the shows got better and the clothing more exquisite.

What we drank: JC Le Roux La Vallee

What we ate: Butterfish, shrimp and chicken cocktail eats

Who we listened to: R&B/Soul singer Malik

What was in our swag bags: Christian Lacroix EVIAN water, L’Oreal Paris Volume Shocking Mascara, L’Oreal  De-maq Expert Make-Up Removing Wipes,  L’Oreal Made For Me Naturals lipstick and L’Oreal Lumino Contrast  gloss serum.

DESIGNERS WORTH A NOD

SIPHAKEME NDLOVU

Siphakeme Ndlovu used black, grey and white as her basic palette with chiffon layered dresses; pleated silk bubble minis; high waist dresses with tight bodices, drop waist cotton dresses and silk shift dresses with pleated chiffon layers at the bottom. While we enjoyed the juxtapositon of romantic femininity and power dressing, we thought the collection was still on the summery side. You almost wanted to put a great fitting coat over those cute, tiny dresses of hers!See more from her collection on the designers section of FashionAfrica.com or Click HERE

MOSEWAMOSA

Before her collection, I had yet to see fusion of fabrics and unlikely-paired hues go so well together. Mosewamosa (Sotho for Mose’s dress) used rich browns, velvet, chiffon and silk - think a loose velvet wrap cardi thrown over a chiffon blouse worn with silk shorts. Designs like this and her jersey pleated poloneck dress; a space inspired hooded mauve velvet bolero, multi coloured cocoon knit jersey with purple stockings and the signature design - a velvet empire line wrap goddess gown in mauve and olive green with lilac mesh all elicited a feeling of anti-hibernation - coming out to play in winter, rather than staying in. We loved the fact that you could wear her designs anywhere in the world and you’d not only look gorgeous, but you can layer or unlayer the clothing based on the weather in whatever part of the world you’re in. See more from her collection on the designers section of FashionAfrica.com or Click HERE

AUDREY MOKHARI

The bubblegum of fashion - this collection was cool because, just like its music muse (and soundtrack) pop music, it didn’t take itself too seriously and wasn’t afraid to go wild with colour. You got the feeling that Audrey really had fun making this collection, resulting in sporty chic, colourful denim jumpsuits with retro mod bolero track tops with hoods; bubble jumper dresses in denim; high waist bubble dungaree shorts, accessorized with hairclips, street sneaks worn on one foot - you almost expected one of the models to pop gum as she was posing for the camera! We loved the innovation on the on-trend treggings - denim with rouched sides.  Who said winter should be dull and boring, anyway?

ABIGAIL KEATZ

As innovative and original as we want designers to be, we can’t make them run away from emulating global catwalk trends. The question is, how well can they interpret these? In her collection, Abigail chose two of winter’s strongest trends  - biker chic and equestrian and fused them, resulting in a sensual but edgy collection - brown treggings with leather lining and leather corsets over a white peasant blouse.  Her jackets, drawing from those of tartan wearing Scotsmen were fitted, shirt shaped and multi-belted with oriental necks. She also touched on felt fabric dresses but my ultimate favourite was the high waist denim skirt with studded, high slits. Can you say pitbull in a skirt?!

MARIANNE FASSLER

Wow! This red-haired (make that dreadlocked) fashion veteran has just become ur new FFD (favourite fashion designer).  This woman not only knows what a collection is, she knows how to put together a brilliant, breathtaking show and tell a story through her clothing. Starting off with her signature introduction - fairy dressed children, in this case, wearing mini-versions of the designs to come, Fassler’s collection was inspired by Cape Town born Marlene Dumas, who specializes in distorting portraits of people, life and expressionism in watercolours and ink. Each design took from elements of Dumas’ work, as well as being a social commentary. Fassler did what many designers have not (at least not yet) been able to do - evolve that which is intrinsically South African into something that could walk anywhere in the world, yet still be authentic. Shweshwe (Xhosa ethnic print textile) went bling and fantastical with her colourful embroidery on the huts and face patterns on the fabric. The Venda culture was sampled with colourful, fairy-like chiffon skirts with soft pleats, each layer showing a different hue. The overall theme of Fassler’s collection (in my humble interpretation) was fantasy and fairytale - a quest to boast our femininity in all its wiles and wildness - from leopard print leggings under tassled skirts with broderie-anglaise to high waisted inverted goddess gowns and the LBD (long black dress) with an A-line tassled bottom and florid bodice. Fassler interpreted winter not only in textile use and design, but in colour - the illusion of being warm through wearing warm colours. See more from her collection on the designers section of FashionAfrica.com or Click HERE

MACHERE

The rebel of Mzansi catwalk has made a return after a three year hiatus from fashion. With a new store, a new baby and a new zest for style, Machere emblazoned the catwalks with colour, albeit a bit softer and less ethnic from her usual textiles. With Lil’ Kim as her soundtrack, Machere’s collection screamed - ‘I’m back, I’m bad (the good kind) and I’m taking over the world!’ From Victorian inspired poloneck dresses, mauve off-the shoulder knit dress with soft pleats and drapes, green kanga fabric strapless dress with draping chiffon  - her cocktail dresses are textured and statement making, while still letting your personality take centre stage. Machere understands a womans body - whatever shape or size they may be - and her clothes mould themselves to your body and allow you to wear them your own way. See more from her collection on the designers section of FashionAfrica.com or Click HERE

Can’t wait to see what Day TWO of AJFWK has to offer!

- Lelethu Lumkwana