You read right! It’s the last day, and it just began yesterday! It’s only in SA 2 days can be called a week, because truly we get a weeks shows done. As always we have complete coverage + reviews of the designers that closed Sanlam South Africa Fashion Week, March 2008:

THANDO ZAMXAKA

For a lot of young designers, production costs can be increased monumentally when you have to buy reams and reams of fabric to make a range. Luckily, textile companies such as Da Gama and Vlisco step in and provide some young designers with free fabric, thereby bringing down the cost of producing a collection (and also giving free publicity to said textile companies). However, because these textile companies usually specialize in ethnic fabric, young designers’ collections can become stuck in the shweshwe rut. Thando Zamxaka successfully managed to avoid this by using international designs and trends (biker chic, pleats, layers and dramatic collars) made in ethnic fabric. The one buttoned waist jacket in red, a blue kimono influenced jacket with a red staggered belt and empire line goddess gown in ethnic textiles showed a designer who is in touch with what the African identity is all about - a synthesis of our roots, high street style, couture and popular culture. I look forward to Zamxaka’s growth in honing this aesthetic. To view Thando Zamxaka’s collection, please visit the designers section on FashionAfrica.com or click HERE.

MISS SCARLETT

Demure, feminine and sensual are the words that best describe the Miss Scarlett range, which juxtaposed form hugging silhouettes like cocoon coats with soft pleats and ribbon belt with free flowing pants. I loved her interpretation of the waistcoat with two criss-crossing buttons vas well as the dramatic swan brooches she used on all her garments. To view Miss Scarlett’s collection, please visit the designers section of FashionAfrica.com or click HERE.

MISTISISM by Tony Mesre

Taking inspiration from 50’s shifts, modernized with bubble bottoms and embellishments, Mistisism featured a black and grey palette with a burst of yellow. Think stark yellow poloneck dresses with pockets. The range was not new or amazing innovation but the garments looked well made. To view Mistisism by Tony Mesre’s collection visit the designers section on FashionAfrica.com or click HERE.

HERMANNA RUSH

What a breath of fresh air to see another colour besides red, yellow and cerese. Blue burst onto the catwalk in Rush’s show - blue on blue in satin, felt and hose; paired with brown dungaree mini dresses or worn with skinny pants tucked into leather boots.  Rush’s collection was bold yet feminine; romantic yet statement-making. To view Hermanna Rush’s collection please visit the designers section on FashionAfrica.com or click HERE.

LUNAR

A lot of people were expecting to be bored (or at least not surprised) by this collection. Lunar, known for its signature use of soft hues and luxurious textures showed feminine drapes, scarf-long cowl necks and blacks paired with browns, once again indulging romanticism in fashion. The range’s showstopper was definitely the flowing silk goddess gown as well as the chiffon layered A-line strapless gown.  Predictable but beautiful at the same time. To view Lunar’s collection please visit the designers section on FashionAfrica.com or click HERE.

CLIVE RUNDLE

This show almost caused the end of a very long and dear friendship. My friend, an observant and out of the box fashionista argued that Rundle’s The Riot (the name of the collection) was the best thing she had seen all week. From a creative point of view, I agreed with her. Throughout fashion week, I had a problem with young designers and their source of inspiration, which seemed to come from the same pool. For totally going against the grain, while still fusing catwalk textures (PVC, chiffon and colour), Clive Rundle gets a 10 out of 10 from me. However, in line what was said at the seminar and how young the South African fashion industry is, I felt that perhaps Rundle’s collection was out of context. Globally, he would’ve been able to show the collection and gain a creative response, with people still choosing to buy his clothing as they can discern between his couture range and his RTW (ready to wear) collection in-store. However, in South Africa, consumers still judge a designer (and whether they would buy his clothing) by what they see on the runway. So the question is: does Clive Rundle not need any more customers or has he simply gotten to that stage where he can afford to indulge his creativity, even if it means he won’t make any more business? Who exactly is his audience? Himself or his (would-be) customers?. To view more from Clive Rundle’s collection, please visit the designers section of FashionAfrica.com or click HERE.

- Lelethu L.