By MPILETSO MOTUMI
Johannesburg - Soweto Fashion Week (SFW) is celebrating its 6th birthday this year.
Though still a baby, it has grown steadily and is becoming one of the highlights of the fashion season.
On Wednesday night they launched the Autumn/Winter collections with an opening party where socialites and industry professionals came to toast the night.
Menswear lines Westrand, Nokwakha and Ellen Madie showcased their Autumn/Winter collections to an exclusive audience at the Soweto Theatre in Jabulani.
The Westrand collection was easy to wear men’s items that included track pants, sweaters and hoodies with asymmetrical cuts and lots of print. They paid attention to detail by using different materials that included corduroy and leather, perfect materials for the winter. The warm, earthy colours on the clothes were playful and vibrant allowing the looks to be on trend and still comfortable.
Nokwakha, a female menswear designer, stuck to classic black and grey for her looks. She focussed on tailored suits with waistcoats and above the knee pants. Her trademark was the paper print texture that added life to the classic looks.
One stand out from the showcase was the performance piece from Row Handmade Accessories. Their exclusive leather bags for men are beautifully handcrafted, pay attention to detail and a must have for all fashionistas. Their performance piece included half naked models of all sizes, including women, walking down the runway and exhibiting their craftsmanship.
There was also a question and answer session with the sponsors and founder of SFW Stephen Manzini.
SFW focuses on the growth of new talent and giving them access to showcase to new markets. In the six years that SFW has been around, many of the designers who have been part of the show have gone on to own stores and showcase their designs on an international level.
Déjà vu by Funeka and Limba by Mbali Nene both have stores in Benoni and Rosebank respectively. Nene also has stores in Sandton and Johannesburg as well as an online store.
For the Autumn/Winter collections, people can look forward to seeing urban looks and trends from Floyd Avenue who recently won the GQ Menswear competition at the SA Fashion Week in April. Designers including Kasified, Zama Swazi and McGale by Lebo will also showcase.
“Soweto Fashion Week does not only display the latest and future fashion trends, but also the capability of new ‘undiscovered’ Soweto fashion designers,” said Manzini.
Thursday night will see a host of new talent exhibiting their work as the fashion week kicks off. The extravaganza will run until Saturday at the Soweto Theatre in Jabulani.
The Star