It’s the fashion week season in all corners of the world and we’re experiencing designers reveal their collections for the upcoming seasons.
Over 30 designers showcased their autumn/winter collections at the recently-held South African Fashion Week in Melrose Arch.
Last season, we predicted that sportswear, particularly soccer, would become and everyday fashion trend, and it is happening.
Several brands at SA Fashion Week showcased menswear collections inspired by sports. For example, Yung Blood Apparel had the tracksuits that sports stars wear during their training sessions, while The Trendsetter From The North had a grass jacket with soccer prints on the sleeves, that’s creativity on another level.
The bold prints
Prints are a big part of the African culture and because we are a colourful continent, prints will always be part of our fashion.
This season, we spotted interesting prints, including the Basotho blankets from Thabo Maketha, the “Ubuhle Buqala Ekhanda [beauty starts from the head]” from Fikile Sokhulu, animal prints from Sun Goddess and instead of their signature prints, Imprint ZA introduced something new.
Accessories
Accessories play a huge role on the runway because, without them, some garments would be plain Jane. Balls were quite big accessories this season- because as we mentioned, there were many sports-inspired ready-to-wear garments.
For example, Candid had soccer balls and boxing gloves as part of their collections, while Thobey Cooper incorporated a basketball in one of their looks.
Bucket hats and caps were there but it was Gert-Johan Cotzee’s uguqa sithandaze (a traditional Zulu hut made of grass) headpiece that stole the show. Helon Melon’s also went big on accessories, from bones neckpieces to big bangles and bold handbags.
The bold colours
While we some yellow, orange and red, dark colours were dominant season. Olive green, black and Russian blue were very much seen on brands like Waalid, Afrikaan Swiss, Mantsho, Rebirth and SinChui.
Denim
If there’s one material that will always reign supreme, it’s denim. Rebirth and Afrikan Swiss showcased styling denim pieces, including dungarees while Fikile Sikhulu played a round a bit and introduced a few pieces of denim.
Sinchui also added denim to her collection and our favourite has to be the jeans with a reversed hem.
The designs
Fashion Week is about experiencing different and innovative designs.
Essie Apparel brought some drama to the runway with a 3d multi-layered puffy dress and a satin Agbada (Nigerian traditional attire worn by men).
Sober also brought the heat with a peach pleated coat with a fringing collar.
Pictures: Eunice Driver.