South African Fashion Week: Spring and summer collection 2019
It's that time of the year were celebs, stylist, designers and everyone who is anyone in the world of fashion gathers to give us the latest trends and what to expect this coming spring and summer. Sandton City was the gathering point for this year’s South African Fashion Week (SAFW) from the 3rd of April to 6th April. The streets of Sandton were buzzing with fashion and social media influencers, models and bloggers trying to find the best light for their Insta story while media tries to capture every moment on their cameras.
In attendance were some of our favorite celebs such as Kim Jayde, Nomuzi Mabena, Minnie Dlamini-Jones and Somizi. On each day they were draped in edgy, fashion forward pieces that spoke to the current state of South African fashion industry. Some standout pieces included Nomuzi Mabena in a black and white sequence ensemble and Kim Jayde’s silky green outfit, complemented with a smokey green makeup look.
From left: Nomuzi Mabena and Kim Jayde at SAFW SS19
The fashion week kicked started with Woolworths Style by SA collections which offered established and emerging designers, such as Mmuso Maxwell, Thebe Magugu, and Wanda Le Photo, an opportunity to showcase their talent. We spoke to Thebe Magugu after the show, who shared his special interest in education and how his university experience had influenced his collections. This year’s collection was inspired by African studies, which was about merging motives and references from his upbringing and culture with shapes that are tailored and contemporary. Indeed this stood out in his favorite design, a piece that was tailored for the modern working woman who also embraces her feminity. This was portrayed in the detail of the suit from the strong shapes of the bodice contrasting the subtle silk in the slit of the suit. Thebe spoke of how this piece was an ode to the modern woman who can do it all while still retaining the looks of a strong feminine matriarch.
Thebe Magugu suit from his African Studies collection shown at SAFW SS19. Picture: Thebe Magugu
A Follow-up to the opening offered a different perspective into fashion trends for this spring and summer season from the eyes of renowned designers as Gert-Johan Coetzee, Ntando XV, De Mil, Judith Atelier and many more. Judith Atelier, Our very own Capetonian designer brought the feeling of holiday on the beach to the busy city of Jo’burg through her exceptional use of a relaxed blue, white and sand colour on a fresh fabric and linen. These elegant shapes and silky drapes that Judith sent down the runway were dreamy in their elegance.
Judith Atelier latest designs from SAFW SS19 collection
In addition to the runway, SAFW offered designers a tradeshow which was an opportunity for young and upcoming designers to showcase their art to fashion buyers. Emerging brands that stood out to us included Weef - a brand of handmade bespoke leather ties. Another stand out brand from Zimbabwe was House of Howha - a brand whose aesthetic lies deeply rooted in Zimbabwean prints and culture taking on a modern twist. This tradeshow was teeming with different textiles, colours and cultures as well as designers who are at the forefront of pioneering South African Fashion.
This season’s selection showcased something for just about everyone — whether you’re a person who prefers comfort over haute couture, or maybe you are very imaginative and yearns to wear a work of art, there was something just for you, and you can wear these designs this year.