CAPE TOWN, April 10 (ANA) – The social power that African designers have on being able to influence the fashion and culture of young aspiring creatives and artists came to the forefront during the final day of the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week (MBFWCT).
This influence was made evident by the trending stylish outfits worn by young people attending the shows in the Salt River Studios venue and the huge amount of support and applause African designers received from this young demographic on Saturday.
The collections echoed a contemporary ‘Pan African glow up’ (glow up is a adjective used by the youth in this particular context to celebrate anything that is excellent and Afrocentric) which confirmed the extraordinary talent the continent has to offer the fashion industry.
A visible Pan African influence which consisted of designers’ use of African tribal prints and accessories could be seen trending through various collections from Khosi Nkosi, The Botswana Collective, Black Trash Clothing, Vernac, Trebene, MaXhosa and Adama Paris. The accessories included head pieces, traditional woven hats, and jewellery.
The Coronation of MaXhosa collection was arguably one of the MBFWCT’s most anticipated collections. The youth especially welcomed this collection. The collection’s opening direction of visual and sound set the tone of contextualising the culture of Xhosa tradition within the space.
These young social media experts who have made careers out of excelling at the craft of curating images for use on various social media platforms showed how they are part of being MaXhosa’s brand influencers both in the fashion world and the social media world where lifestyle and fashion blogs are increasing their fashion clout with personal Instagram accounts.
Young black social media influencers associate themselves with similar design and lifestyle concepts to those represented in the MaXhosa collection.
The Maxhosa brand is now a leading brand both in local and international design and fashion markets.
African News Agency (ANA) spoke to MaXhosa designer Laduma Ngxokolo about where he got his inspiration for his collection from. He told ANA that he was inspired by the patterns found in traditional Xhosa clothing.
The MaXhosa brand has transcended its creative conception and risen towards becoming one of the leading fashion and lifestyle brands in South Africa’s fashion scene with a global outlook.
“The reason why we made this collection was to celebrate five years and to continue our journey in the industry,” Ngxokolo said.
Fabrics used in this predominately red collection were made from sustainable materials. The use of red could be viewed as a metaphor of Africa and the passion it has produced from a painful past and present with which creatives are drawing inspiration from to forge forward into the future. MaXhosa has grown as a fashion and lifestyle brand, and has successfully revolutionised knitwear.
The Botswana Collective designers Sweetie and Kefseddy Designs made an ode to the beauty of their own country. Sweetie introduced a collection consisting of beautifully structured and feminine pieces that used fabric with print, brocade and metallic detailing, while Kefseddy’s designs was made of lace printed dresses.
This collection was refreshing in that there were no animal prints throughout the collection. Pearls and lace juxtaposed the rich and solid capes and evening gowns – it left one’s imagination with that of imagery from the Botswana’s natural landscape.
Another designer from Botswana, Black Trash Clothing, showcased a collection inspired by multiple contexts. Black Trash Clothing designers Gertrude Motopamele and Kutlwano Mogojwe said that their collection was influenced by a nomandic lifestyle as “they are not designing, they are travelling.”
The collection looked effortlessly sustainable, with its feel reflecting that of a postmodern global world where an idea cannot survive as an island, thus replicating this in the dimensions and layers of clothing.
Carducci closed the fashion week with a collection that may have reminded some of an Instagram post from Siyabonga Beyile’s Instagram account, The Threaded Man.
Carducci’s exquisitely tailored suits were complemented with their choice of high end Italian fabrics. The men in suits intrigued both men and women, and the collection as a whole remind us of the timelessness of the fashion industry in which Africans designers are creating their own standards and carrying the continent’s flag high.
– African News Agency (ANA)
