In a benevolent and much- needed turn, South African Fashion Week (SAFW) has committed to a five-year plan to lead the development of an ecologically-based and sustainable local design culture by 2025. This welcomed eco-friendly development is a first by any African platform and a step in the right direction for sustainable fashion nationally. One can only hope that more platforms across the continent commit to more ecologically-based design philosophies as we have witnessed individual designers from all over Africa do.

The Big Days

One of South Africa’s hottest fashion tickets ran from 23-26 October 2019. Lending two days each to women’s and menswear respectively. The SAFW Autumn/Winter 2020 Luxury Collections unfurled on the rooftop of shopping mecca, Sandton City in Johannesburg. 30 designers showcased collections in SAFW’s 36th season on runways and installations in the fashion capital. Much to our pleasure, a strong sustainability ethos was already visible in the design philosophy of participants in the New Talent, Cape Wools & Mohair SA Designer Challenge and SAFW Student Competitions.

The Trade Show

Now in its ninth year, the SAFW Trade Show exhibited the craftsmanship of 80 designers of women’s and menswear, bags, millinery, accessories and jewellery. Lucilla Booyzen, Director of SAFW shares that “the wholesale trade show has become the go-to place for sourcing uniquely new creativity for many independent boutiques and department stores from South Africa, the African continent, Europe, Japan and North America”.

The remarkable

Isolating which designers to discuss is never an easy task because of the high levels of originality and unique personality displayed in local African fashion weeks. The following designers, however, stood out remarkably:

AfrikanSwiss produced a diverse and daring denim drove. It was far from a “typical” blue-washed collection. Colourful clusters of patterns and prints, unconventional cuts and unpredictable sequencing of Afrocentric expressions resulted in a delightful series of original and pleasant surprises. A great feat for a denim collection. Erre’s beautifully constructed knitwear options are luxuriant and decadent. Perfect for the coming season. Judith Atelier (video below) and Lunar (images above) displayed the mastery of simplicity and showcased feminine charm and power with sophistication. National favourite Mantsho, first African designer to produce a collection for Swedish retail giants H&M earlier this year, offered an adventurous collection well-suited for the unapologetically bold woman.

Post EVENT POP-UPS

The post-runway luxury pop-up experience, where you can purchase all manner of goodies from a broad range of handpicked talent, will be running from 01- 03 November at Sandton City at the Checkers Court. Happy Shopping!

All images: Eunice Driver Photography for SAFW Collections.