ART
TRENDING IN THE SOUTH
T
he heart of Soweto (Soweto Theatre)
was the designated setting for a
colourful and exciting three day
event. With all the excitement,
IMBO couldn’t help but head down
to the show’s finale to give you our own
fashion forecast exclusive...
Kicking off on the 26th of November, Soweto
Fashion Week (SFW) came back with a stylish
vengeance this year. Partnering with Darling,
Rhythm City and Soweto TV, it invited a
diverse cultural group of designers from
Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Botswana and upcoming
designers from Soweto to showcase their
autumn/summer collections.
Soweto fashion week started in 2011 by
Stephen Manzini. He wanted to put South
Africa’s fashion on the map. One other main
reason for this was that he wanted to ensure
that designers, who could hardly afford to be
in big fashion shows, could still get a platform
to showcase their work and prospectively
pervade the international market. Stephen
states, “One truth holds for most of the
designers; the South African fashion industry
is tough to crack with minimal resources.” So
far, SFW has gone beyond their initial vision
and now also includes designers from outside
of South Africa.
Collins started the show elegantly with an
impressive bang (bold textures, patterns and
flawlessly stitched garments) with Flora &
Tapiwa, Tapfumeni, Temi Aboderin and Limba
following with their unique collections.
They all brought a special balance of innovation
and tradition to the stage, combined with the
variety of models showing off the garments – it
was truly a unique experience compared to the
stereotypical elements of high fashion we’re
all used to. SFW visually related a healthy
story on body image in South Africa. And if
this isn’t a real reason to love self-regulating
shows, I don’t know what is.
SFW also brought along the mother and
daughter duo behind Lanshongwe Jewellery
for the finale where they showcased their bold
and Afrocentric designs - distinctly suitable
for the modern African while still keeping up
with international jewellery trends such as the
body chain and ear hoops.
To close off this auspicious three day event,
LIMBA energetically presented daring lingerie,
swimwear accessories and bold evening wear
for the autumn/summer theme of SFW which,
admittedly, was one of the best collections of
the show.
Over all, it was a pleasant experience, filled
with fashionable divas, just the right amount
of entertainment and a good celebratory
energy. One thing is for certain, we can’t wait
for the winter SWF of 2015. It’s sure to present
us with something special. Afterall, it’s Soweto
Fashion Week - we can only expect bigger
and better things!
By Lebohang Morake
133
IMBO/ ISSUE 32/ '14