Today’s post is dedicated to the beautiful Samsung installations which were placed in the foyers of the Pretoria City Hall where #MBFWAfrica took place.
Samsung gave us an opportunity to have a closer look at the garments that was shown on the runway. I was extremely impressed with the attention to detail and how the designers illustrated Africa’s natural genera through fashion.
The instillations were ART, very beautiful and it showed us how CREATIVE and TALENTED African designers are!
Have a look at the beautiful instillations and comments from the designers below:
Jacques van der Watt (SA) & Albertus Swanepoel (SA/USA)
"I was inspired by the texture and form of birds. I used literal and abstract shapes of birds to create graphic interest on the garments. Working with crafters, feather and wing shapes were abstracted to simple triangles and circles that were applied to the garments in beaded shapes. I also used a classic couture technique of applying individual plumes of ostrich feathers creating a soft texture on fabric with lovely movement." Jacques van der Watt, designer, Black Coffee
"I love feathers, they have been associated with millinery since the beginning of time and I work with them a lot. The ostrich feather trade originated in South Africa, so they are also very nostalgic for me. For #AmazeAfrica I tried different techniques, and different ways to use them: I got the guys on the side of road to bead a feather for me, I made a feather wig, feather pompons. I also brought in ostrich skin - there are trim elements and the ostrich fedora which is lined in shwe shwe." Albertus Swanepoel, designer, Albertus Swanepoel
Anisa Mapungwe (Tanzania/SA) & Doreen Mashika (Tanzania)
"I was inspired by the structure and skin of the insects of the Hymenoptera genus. I especially looked at their colours when in sunlight - the translucence of their wings and iridescent bodies." Anisa Mapungwe, designer, Loin Cloth and Ashes
"I looked at the cultural behaviour of East Africa - the Masaai in particular and mixed this up with the ants' natural habitat. I used recycled materials - sisal and burlap and namibian silks to evoke the colours and trees of their environment. I added recycled brass and created a motif that resembles a futuristic butterfly - looking at a new world led by insects". Doreen Mashika, designer, Doreen Mashika
LaurenceAirline (Cote d'Ivoire / France) & Missibaba (SA)
"I was inspired by the graphic patterns of snakes. My work is very minimal and the shapes of the reptiles comes through in the drape of the collar and the vent of the coat. There is also a languid sensuality that is conveyed in the deep, rich colours." Laurence Chauvin Buthaud, designer, LaurenceAirline
"I was inspired by the tortoise carapace: the geometric shapes, and the almost primal, boggy colours. I hoped the weave would create a 3-dimensional feeling, and like the carapace, the cover is sheath, protecting the precious inner… There's also a hint of poison snakes in the colours: the neon shots, turquoise on black, and the yellow." Chloe Townsend, designer, Missibaba
Marianne Fassler (SA) & Quamta (SA)
"I like the hard and soft dimensions of the pincushion: this duality of fragility and hardiness is quite emotive. Being an indigenous flower it is also evocative of Africa. They are virtually indestructible, but you wouldn't know that as they have this softness about them, a joy that comes from their colours." Marianne Fassler, designer
"I was inspired by the textures of the pincushion
and the weaves of Marianne's garments. The fronds of the flowers come through
the prints on the cover. There is also the feeling of the pincushion. We padded
the pieces so the interpretation is not just visual, but also tactile: there is
a softness to the touch that is representative of the flower. We wove together the different materials to
convey the idea of different seasons, and the journey of seed to flower. By
adding the tassels and lanyards it reinforces the idea of the plants flowering
and this explosion of colour. "Pieter
Janse van Rensburg, designer, Quamta
Projecto Mental (Angola) & Rift Valley Leather
(Kenya)
"The butterflies and moths of the Rift Valley have a connection with species from the same kind found in colder climates. Lepidopteran are known to migrate to escape harsh and disadvantageous conditions. Some travelling as far as 4800km, not unlike humans." Tekasala and Shunnuz, designers, Projecto Mental
"The butterflies and moths of the Rift Valley have a connection with species from the same kind found in colder climates. Lepidopteran are known to migrate to escape harsh and disadvantageous conditions. Some travelling as far as 4800km, not unlike humans." Tekasala and Shunnuz, designers, Projecto Mental
"Who cannot be inspired by butterflies? They are
such astonishing creatures. They take me back to my school years and biology
classes; learning the life cycles: the egg to the caterpillar to the chrysalis
and then the butterfly. I really looked at the shapes of the pupa and how to
translate that into the shape of the bag. Looking at elements of protection and
evolution, while bringing in the colours and fascination butterflies
engender." Robert Topping,
designer, RVL
Taibo Bacar (Mozambique) & Pichulik (SA)
"We looked primarily at the colours and the shapes of the cycads. There's something majestic and statuesque about this ancient plant and we hoped to bring this through in the sharp silhouettes and asymmetric geometry of our collection." Taibo Bacar, designer
"I was inspired by the textures, form and lines of
the cycad. I think it's very interesting the cycad dates so far back, to
jurassic times, there is a hardiness to the plant, it has sustained through
centuries. I brought in the azure colours as it is the colour of North Africa
and Cycads are found in tropical African climes. The leather for the backpack
has a texture that is reminiscent of the texture of the Cycad's bulbous stem -
and this is also echoed in the shape." Katherine-Mary Pichulik, designer, Pichulik
1981 by Nana Brenu (Ghana/Italy) & Adele Dejak
(Uganda/Kenya)
"Given the brief, on seeing the Coleoptera beetles, their hard, shiny exterior and fascinating ‘oil in water’ like colours, the Ankole cow horn immediately sprang to mind. Wanting to rejuvenate African luxury, as well as representing the beetle in a contemporary, stylish manner, the shape of the beetle was stripped down and focus remained on the body. In keeping with wanting to create luxurious pieces, black leather was chosen. The black leather is clean cut and bold: minimal – and the horn clasp is reminiscent of the body of the beetle itself, hard, polished, captivating. Horn has been introduced in to every piece from the Samsung #AmazeAfrica collection to remind us of the beetle’s hard, shiny exterior. Recycled brass also played a role in the creation of the pieces, in keeping with the luxury brief, giving the pieces that extra luxurious edge, adding the colour gold." Adele Dejak, designer, Adele Dejak
"Given the brief, on seeing the Coleoptera beetles, their hard, shiny exterior and fascinating ‘oil in water’ like colours, the Ankole cow horn immediately sprang to mind. Wanting to rejuvenate African luxury, as well as representing the beetle in a contemporary, stylish manner, the shape of the beetle was stripped down and focus remained on the body. In keeping with wanting to create luxurious pieces, black leather was chosen. The black leather is clean cut and bold: minimal – and the horn clasp is reminiscent of the body of the beetle itself, hard, polished, captivating. Horn has been introduced in to every piece from the Samsung #AmazeAfrica collection to remind us of the beetle’s hard, shiny exterior. Recycled brass also played a role in the creation of the pieces, in keeping with the luxury brief, giving the pieces that extra luxurious edge, adding the colour gold." Adele Dejak, designer, Adele Dejak
"I was inspired by the delicateness of the beetle’s
wings and its hard exoskeleton, translating this into armour-type garments but
with a soft feel, using silk organza to simulate the wings and silk gazar and
techno wool to simulate the exoskeleton of the beetle." Nana Brenu, designer, 1981 by Nana Brenu
Image Credit: Brett Rubin
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