First Look: G-STAR RAW RESEARCH II by Aitor Throup Which Launched at Paris Fashion Week

Born from the brand’s innovation laboratory, Raw Research II embodies the latest efforts to explore the unlimited possibilities of denim. The Raw Research lab experiments with product design by clashing tradition and innovation, and symbolizes an endeavor to find new ways of crafting denim through the process of exploration, curiosity, and experimentation. The Raw Research capsule collection introduces the brand’s latest denim innovations as prototypes, functioning as the blueprints for the following main collection and representing the G-Star RAW design philosophy in its purest form.




The highlight innovation of the second Raw Research collection is a brand new 3D denim concept which challenges the conventions of denim design: the ‘Motac’ series. This unique approach to garment construction is the result of a focused ergonomic study of the human body in motion. The approach of combining rigid denim with flexible fabric inserted panels results in unexpected product hybrids - such as the motocross inspired Motac-X jeans -and is a significant advancement towards new possibilities for denim design.

For this collection, the iconic Dutch tulip was used as a conceptual backdrop. The flower -prominent in the Hans Bollongier 'Floral Still Life' 1639 painting which also features in the exhibition space - serves as a metaphor for the Dutch 'Tulipmania' and the inevitable collapse of its economic model based on exclusivity. The ‘tulip fever’ originates from the country's economic boom period of the 1630s, at the height of which a single tulip bulb was worth more than a luxury home. Through Raw Research II, Throup flips the historic Dutch symbolism of wealth and status connected to the iconic blossom. He does so by reflecting that while the capsule collection is offered exclusively through selected stores, the innovations it introduces outlive this exclusivity through their direct influence and dissemination into future G-Star RAW general collections, available for everyone.



The Raw Research II capsule collection is the first one after the announcement of Aitor Throup as the brand’s Executive Creative Director. It mirrors the vision of the artist and designer as to how he sees the future of denim through G-Star RAW.



The collection will be available in select high-end concept stores around the world from early June 2017.

FENTY x PUMA by Rihanna Spring/Summer 2017 Collection to be Presented at Paris Fashion Week

PUMA and Rihanna announced that the Spring/Summer 2017 FENTY PUMA by RIHANNA collection will be presented in Paris during Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday, 28 September. Fresh off the heels of her anticipated Autumn/Winter 2016 in-store launch earlier this month, this Spring/Summer 2017 season will be presented to buyers, press, influencers and the world in a unique, intimate and very different way befitting of the collection’s direction, style and its namesake Creative Director. TIDAL X: RIHANNA will offer fans worldwide front row access to view the collection via an exclusive livestream presented by global music and entertainment platform, TIDAL.

Two presentations are scheduled at 7:30 and 8:30 pm CEST, both of which will be streamed live by Tidal – members and non-members alike will be able to view the events on FENTY.TIDAL.COM and via Tidal’s App. Viewers of the livestream will have access to exclusive interviews and behind the scenes content presented throughout the evening.

Rihanna’s first full collection launched on 6 September and new fashion introductions will arrive in stores throughout the rest of the month, into October, November and December. The Spring/Summer 2017 collection will arrive in stores in late February and includes footwear, apparel and accessories for both men and women.

Olwethu Cele Is Making Moves As One Of The Faces of Durban Fashion Fair 2016

Olwethu Cele from Ice Model Management Durban is one of the faces of the Durban Fashion Fair 2016 ad campaign. He is an example of how an opportunity (he won the new face category at the DFF 2015 recognition awards) can build a career and create a role model for a whole community.

Although he is currently based in Durban, Cele comes from the small village of KwaNikhwe, which is close to Bizana near Port Edward. As the first model to come from this small town, he is looked up to by many of the younger members of the community.

Within a very short space of time, he has worked with a number of trend setting designers and fashion brands including House of Saint Luke by Mxolisi, Duke, Hombre’ by Vanessa Pillay, Terrence Bray and Palse. He has also showcased for Shaldon Kopman and African designer, Clement Effanga and has done shoots for The Hub and a number of stores in Botswana.

Buy your ticket now, to catch Cele on this year’s catwalk at Durban Fashion Fair. Ticket prices range from R100 per person per show with students at R50 per student per show. Prices for the Awards show will cost R200 per person and students at R100 per person. Tickets are available at Computicket.

DFF Mentors Young Designer Hopefuls

The Durban Fashion Fair (DFF) Mentorship Programme is gathering momentum as 21 young designers (from around the eThekwini Municipality) strive to learn all they can about the world of fashion. 

The DFF is a proudly eThekwini Municipality initiative developed to grow the fashion industry in the city and to create employment and entrepreneurship opportunities. Scores of young designers put their names forward in November last year and 21 were chosen to take part in the programme. This includes working closely with some of the city’s top fashion gurus as well as their fellow designers.

The interns, who range in age from 23 to 35, are all currently working in the fashion industry. Selection was based on three pillars – creativity (which was judged on story boards), garment construction as well as business acumen (a traceable client base, business plan and business skills).

All the interns from this year will also see their work on the ramp at the Durban Fashion Fair later this year as well as some of them will be showcasing for the first time to the city’s fashionistas as well as buyers, suppliers and industry leaders and media all under one roof. According to Sindi Shangase, the Programme Manager for the Business Support Tourism and Markets Unit who has driven the DFF since inception in 2012, the mentorship programme is intended to train enterprising young designers in all aspects of the fashion business and prepare them and their collections for the DFF.

Programme mentors are G & D Apparel’s, Greg Wallis and respected Durban based designer, Terrence Bray. Bray will assist with orientation, choice of textiles, collection design and styling amongst other clothing related matters. Wallis will not only guide interns on orientation and textile selection but provide valuable information on manufacturing, brand management, costing and entering the world of retail. Guest lecturers from the industry will be invited to take turns in assisting in the development of these mentees.

The current interns are provided with different design briefs and assignments each week. They work in teams, selecting a team leader and critting each other’s work. They are also taught to build collections from start to finish. Additional modules will show these aspiring designers how to run their own successful businesses. When the programme concludes, one of these intern designers will receive a recognition award during the Durban Fashion Fair Awards on Saturday, September 3rd at the Inkosi Chief Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre.

Over and above the mentorship programme, Woolworths South Africa have also come on board as a sponsor and will be providing the mentees with an additional challenge to form part of their curriculum. Winners of this particular challenge will be announced on Saturday, September 3rd at the Durban Fashion Fair Recognition Awards event.

The DFF will include 16 shows that will take place at the Durban Exhibition Centre from Wednesday, August 31st to Friday, September 2nd.

Tickets will be on sale at Computicket from Monday, August 1st. Prices range from R100 per person per show with students at R50 per student per show. Prices for the Awards show will cost R200 per person and students R100 per person.

#CareerAdvice: So you want to work in fashion? Tips for aspiring fashion designers

Heart & Heritage Spring/Summer16, SAFW

Are you dreaming of showing off your clothing at a major Fashion Week? If yes, read these fashion designer tips, you are going to be well on your way to making your fashion dreams come true.

Work hard

‘Be prepared to work very hard, learn from criticism but don’t let it defeat you, make friends with your customers and network within the industry to learn about available opportunities and then be brave and go for them with 100% effort.’ - Lesley Whitter, Heart & Heritage

Learn the Business of Fashion

‘Business skills are as essential as a great design. Being a fashion designer is the rawest form of entrepreneurship. Not only are you creating a garment from a sketch you also need to then sell it. Do a business course, read business books and do not be afraid of failing. As long as you learning from your mistakes you are growing. If you really want to be a fashion designer embrace the lessons and you will only get better. Remember no one said it’s going to be easy!’ – GreerKyle

Start Selling

‘Get out there and start selling on any platform possible! Try, fail, adapt and try again. There is no quick fix in fashion it's a long haul. It's definitely not glamorous but if you can make it through the dirt road and pay your dues, I speak from experience - it can work and it's so worth it!’ – Melissa Somerset, Somerset Jane

Network

‘Get to know people in the industry and make connections, become familiar. You never know when you might need a favour, or you could get involved in a cool collaboration!’ - James Barrett-Poulsen, LUMIN

A Closer Look at Heart & Heritage’s Winning Collection

 SA Fashion Week has gone by, however we are still buzzing over Heart & Heritage’s collection which Lesley Whitter presented at the Lufthansa 1^st Best Collections Showcase on 5 April 2016. The Heart & Heritage Spring/Summer 2016 (SS16) collection was inspired by Lufthansa, and the theme was built around ‘Fernweh’, a German word, ‘which means to crave and dream about travel’. The garments in the collection are lovely and elegant and will surely make any girl look dashing as she explores the world in the striking pieces.

The colour palette for the collection was very soft, feminine and dreamy. Heart & Heritage made use of hammered satin, bon bon, soft natural cottons, soft tule/netting and hand textured the fabrics with a ‘Jackson Pollock’ like pain technique.

Heart & Heritage’s SS16 collection was very strong and the judges chose Lesley as the Lufthansa 1^st Best Collections winner.  

LUMIN’s All-White Spring/Summer 2016 Collection at SA Fashion Week

For Spring/Summer 2016 (SS16) LUMIN brings us a collection that was inspired by ‘everyday chaos’. The design duo behind the brand is Amy Liu and James Barret-Poulsen. The designers wanted to evoke a ‘sense of serene and calm confidence, embodying a women who is sure in her style and comfortable in the streets of New York or the beaches of the Seychelles’. LUMIN presented their SS16 collection on 5 April 2016 at SA Fashion Week, during the Lufthansa 1^st Best Collections Showcase. The models looked cool and dashing as they effortlessly walked the runway in LUMIN.

The colour palette for the collection was cool and calm and consisted out of whites and sheers with a print which was designed by the design duo. The fabrics were lightweight and had easy movement and included linens, mesh, chiffons, voiles and twills.

The Lumin SS16 collection is cool and young, with interesting shapes and sillihouetes. It is both comfortable and easy to wear.

Somerset Jane’s Spring/Summer 2016 Collection Will Make You Want To Travel

As a finalist in the Lufthansa 1^st Best Collections, Melissa Jane Somerset of Somerset Jane designed a lovely collection that will have you looking 1^st class chic for any destination which you dream of embarking on! She features an array of dresses, tops, pants and jumpsuits which are easy on the eyes, made of quality fabrics and are comfortable to travel in.

Somerset Jane’s Spring/Summer 2016 (SS16) collection was designed around a brief being ‘Dress for your Flight 1^st Class Lufthansa’. The collection maintained a minimalist aesthetic, with interesting cuts and shapes. The colour palette was very monochromatic and minimal and included grey, black, white and navy, which held the collection together and gave it a sense of sophistication.

Somerset Jane’s SS16 collection is equally stylish and comfortable and will be great additions to your wardrobe.

Celebrating the African Woman – Spring/Summer 2016 Collection by GreerKyle

For Spring/Summer 2016 (SS16) GreerKyle was inspired by African Women celebrating Life. She presented a beautiful collection at SA Fashion Week during the Lufthansa 1^st Best Collections Showcase where she was a finalist. The aim of the Lufthansa 1^st Best Collections Showcase is to provide the country’s young emerging designers with the opportunity to showcase their collections and to introduce their talents to the world.

The colour palette for the collection was inspired by the African Sunset. The collection had quite a few striking pieces and included all the essentials for SS16 such as beautiful dresses, skirts and blouses.

GreerKyle struck a balance between, comfort and colour and designed a collection that was instantly appealing.

Heart & Heritage wins Lufthansa 1st Best Collections Award at SA Fashion Week

On Tuesday, 5 April 2016, Johannesburg-based Heart & Heritage was crowned the Lufthansa 1^st Best Collections winner for young designers at this year’s SA Fashion Week. The handcrafted designs by Lesley Whitter focus on wearability, unique details, comfort, and flattering fits.

As one of the most keenly anticipated events at the SA Fashion Week, the 1^st Best Collections Award is now in its fourth year of sponsorship by Lufthansa. The initiative provides the country’s young emerging designers with the opportunity to showcase their collections and introduce the world to their talents. They are considered to represent the future of the local fashion industry and are selected by the SA Fashion Week board to provide greater exposure to their brands. 

“Lufthansa would like to congratulate all the finalists who took part in the Lufthansa 1st Best Collections. To have been selected is a feat in itself. I was a part of the judging panel and let me tell you it was tough,” says Dr. Andre Schulz, General Manager, Southern Africa, at Lufthansa. “The Heart & Heritage brand stood out from the outset. There was something about Lesley – not only did she present a confident business case and good aesthetic appeal but, she also displayed the characteristics of excellence and dedication, in line with what the Lufthansa brand stands for.”

Lucilla Booyzen, Director of SA Fashion Week, added her congratulations for Heart & Home. “Once a designer has come through to this level of the Lufthansa 1st Best competition we at SAFW believe that they are ready to play an active role in the creative fashion design industry and in the retail arena, building wealth and creating jobs in South Africa.

“Lufthansa is playing a vital role in identifying and awarding the next generation of designers that will lead the SA Fashion Industry. To us, it is very important that the industry should be led by designers.”

Whitter’s designs are remarkable for creating beauty from the traditional process of crafting a garment from a concept. Each garment is drafted on paper, thoughtfully sampled and finally brought to life by local hands. Whitter currently has a store in the Bamboo Centre in Melville, called Convoy, and also supplies The Space Rosebank and The Space Mall of Africa. 

“Winning is an absolute dream come true,” says Whitter. “I am so happy and excited. To be associated with Lufthansa is amazing, as it is such an incredible brand, and I am thankful for them enabling me to have this opportunity with my brand, and to go to Berlin. I know that it is going to help me meet new customers, gain exposure, and grow my business.” 

“We have selected a winner who we feel is a perfect fit; someone who is not only an inspiring person but also a great designer – a 1^st choice (for the winner of the 1^st Best Collections),” concludes Jola Slomkowski Marketing Manager, Lufthansa, South Africa.

Lufthansa 1st Best Collections Showcases SA’s Best Fashion Design Talent

Lufthansa 1st Best Collections Finalists

Leading international carrier Lufthansa is again sponsoring one of the most keenly anticipated showcases at the SA Fashion week, the Lufthansa 1st Best Collections. This initiative provides the country’s young emerging designers with the opportunity to showcase their collections and introduce the world to their talents.

The designers who are considered to represent the future of the local fashion industry are selected by the SA Fashion Week board to provide greater exposure to their brands. “Lufthansa German Airlines is proud to be the official airline partner of the SA Fashion Week,” says Dr Andre Schulz, General Manager, Southern Africa, at Lufthansa. “Not only is the Lufthansa 1st Best Collections a celebration of entrepreneurship, is it also a unique opportunity to take locally inspired fashion across the globe, connecting South Africa to the fashion capitals of the world.”

This year marks Lufthansa’s fourth year of sponsoring the 1st Best Collections at the SA Fashion Week. Seven designers have been selected to showcase their designs at the show on Tuesday, 5 April, at 21:30, at Hyde Park, House of Events on 7. This year’s finalists are: Somerset Jane, T’Niche, Lumin, Greerkyle, and Heart & Heritage. The winner of the show will be announced on the Tuesday evening after the show.

“The Lufthansa 1st Best Collections is an important platform for next-generation designers who have been in the industry for less than a decade,” says Lucilla Booyzen, Director of SA Fashion Week. “Although all the finalists possess a particularly strong signature, good design alone is not enough to help good young designers become brilliant designers who go on to play a leading role in the creative fashion design space of a country.

“It takes hard work combined with the correct marketing platform, social media savvy, correct timing, master manufacturing, the right clientele, celebrities, and personal marketability for a designer to be seen by the media and other key players. They need to be pushed into the limelight where they are recognised, talked about and given opportunities to fast-track their businesses. Through 1st Best Collections, Lufthansa is providing these designers with an opportunity of a lifetime.”

Dr Schulz, joined by other fashion industry professionals, made no joke when reviewing the business cases and collections of the above selected designers. “Certain criteria were under spotlight. The importance of having general business acumen was equally weighted against a designer’s self-awareness,” said Dr Schulz.

“We want the winning designer to succeed. Our show provides a platform for the designers to draw support from the SAFW network. Being business savvy, as well as having the aptitude to amplify their brand, is critical in making the most of all opportunities that will present themselves to the winner. The finalists selected will proudly represent the best of emerging local talent in this year’s Lufthansa 1st Best Collections,” concludes Jola Slomkowski, Marketing Manager, Lufthansa, South Africa.

Tickets to the Lufthansa 1st Best Collections show can be purchased on the SA Fashion Week Website at: http://www.safashionweek.co.za/category/ss16-2/ss16-programme/

FENTY x PUMA – Rihanna’s First Collection Premieres at New York Fashion Week, AW16

Overcome by environmental elements and an ominous mood-inducing energy, frostbitten models walked the runway with a bold chill, donning the first ever FENTY PUMA BY RIHANNA Collection. Just like the collection’s namesake creative director, the first season driven by Rihanna is nothing short of unexpected with a full collection of footwear, apparel and accessories for both women and men.

Rihanna drew inspiration from today’s Japanese street culture and tradition for this first full season collection since partnering with PUMA in December 2014. Mixing that cultural influence with gothic overtones and exaggerated volumes and proportions, the fashion icon challenged the traditional male and female silhouettes and blurred the lines between genders that are often times too rigid for her fashion tastes.

Rihanna introduced styles such as a ground-sweeping Kimono Robe, Tear Away Tricot Track Suits, an attitude punched Lace-Up Jersey Corset, dresses and bodysuits. In her first collection, she played with shapes creating exaggerated long sleeve tops and jackets and voluminous hoodies and crew necks.  Many apparel silhouettes play with laces, running up and down the pieces for an added edge. Outerwear styles, like the Velvet Bomber Jacket, serve both the fashion hungry and the function-needy. Each piece embodies a sexiness with a tough-as-nails attitude.

“This collection is not only a representation of who I am and how I dress, but also pushes the boundaries of what I wanted to create with PUMA” said PUMA Brand Ambassador and Women’s Creative Director Rihanna, “I wanted to take PUMA to a new place with something unpredictable and unexpected. It's Japanese street culture with a haunting twist. I played with texture and silhouettes and all of the fabrics are luxurious. I reinterpreted the traditional in my way. I'm looking forward to sharing the collection with the fashion community and fans.”

A PUMA collection is never complete without footwear. As a follow up to her beloved PUMA Creeper launch, the AW16 collection ranges from show-stomping boots to sporty heels to training sneakers. An exaggerated over-the-knee Eskiva boot laced up on some of fashion’s top models turned heads on the runway.

The footwear styles that was shown will be available soon. Rihanna’s first official modern and futuristic training shoe, the FENTY Trainer will hit PUMA SELECT in Cape Town, Bree Street and Johannesburg, Braamfontein, as well as X–Trend on 26 February 2016. Rihanna’s anxiously anticipated Fur Slide will launch in April and the infamous PUMA Creeper returns in May with new colors.

The PUMA by Rihanna Accessories range features an over-the-top Bomber Jacket Bag, the Fur Waistbag fit with two pockets for you and your boo and fashionable durags, caps and headwear, chokers and veiled sweatband all to perfect the look.

The AW16 PUMA by RIHANNA collection, under her FENTY label, includes a mix of fashion and lifestyle apparel, footwear and accessories and will be available at retail beginning September 2016.

adidas Originals by Kanye West - YEEZY SEASON 3 Presentation

For Autumn/Winter 2016, Kanye West returned to present YEEZY SEASON 3 in the most epic way imaginable: an exclusive presentation at New York's Madison Square Garden including the global debut of his highly anticipated new album and a performance by renowned contemporary artist Vanessa Beecroft. Presented during New York Fashion Week on February 11, 2016, the collection featured a sneak preview of footwear innovations to come from West and adidas in the year ahead.

NMD

The YEEZY SEASON 3 presentation's main cast unveiled an updated version of the YEEZY BOOST 350 and a brand-new 1050 boot. Both models utilizing the latest in adidas Boost technology, in which blown EVA pellets are compressed to create a durable, shock-resistant, responsive sole. A cast of almost 1000 extras, meanwhile, wore iconic adidas styles such as the Tubular, NMD, Gazelle, Stan Smith, and the Superstar. All models exclusively wore apparel from West's own line YEEZY SEASON 3, and he also included select pieces of his own YEEZY SEASON 3 footwear and accessories.

Tubular

Introducing Defined Geometry by Craig Port – SA Menswear Week, Autumn/Winter 2016

Inspired by the metropolitan, Craig was drawn to outerwear and the way an oversized silhouette has the ability to shift the human shape. The collection celebrates beautiful essentials designed in response to an evolving world.

A palette of charcoal and ink compliments crisp hues of dune and milk, while safari green and tangerine stripes add a graphic dimension. Channeling fluidity with form, Defined Geometry presents an almost robotic urban uniform.

Pieces are sleek and simplistic, devoid of any superfluous layering. With close attention paid to detail, which suggests a luxurious finish, the collection takes a trajectory from sporty to elegant, with an unmistakably PORT edge.

Zippers, bombers, pea coats with rounded shoulders, crisp parkas and this season’s must-have shacket push the boundaries of balance and proportion. Shielding trench coats and luxe dusters in a granite speckled fabric play with dimensions and form. Silk sateen, rubberized tweed, nylon and multi-knitted bouclé in defined silhouettes are paired with dark utilitarian denim creating desirable new looks with an innovative shape.

Craig Port clothing is available exclusively at YDE.

Image Credit: Simon Deiner / SDR Photo 

Highlights from SA Menswear Week – Autumn/Winter 2016

The third instalment of South African Menswear Week (SAMW) was held at Cape Town Stadium last week (3 – 6 February 2016). Talented designers from across Africa showcased their 2016 Autumn/Winter collections.

See the highlights below from Africa’s only focused menswear fashion week:

2BOP

Chulaap by Chu Suwannapha

Craig Port

Magents

Image Credit: Simon Deiner / SDR Photo