Fashion show hits all right notes
EAST London fashion designers were yesterday given an opportunity to showcase their work at the city’s first ever SA Fashion Festival (SAFF).
The festival, in partnership with the Buffalo City Metro and Elitt Technology Solutions, took place at Heroes Park on the Esplanade opposite the East London Aquarium.
Not only were local designs on display, but entrepreneurs were also able to trade their goods.
The fashion spectacular – themed “Culture Meets Runway” – started at 6pm where East Londoners enjoyed a variety of activities such as wine-tasting, food stalls, a fashion show, cultural dance performances, arts and craft stalls and much more.
Elitt Technology CEO and founder of SAFF Nolitha Mqunyana, said 10 secondWalter Sisulu University (WSU) fashion design students had been selected to showcase their designs at the fashion show.
Hailing from KwaBhaca, Mqunyane is a computer science graduate who has always had a passion for fashion.
She said the Eastern Cape was often abandoned with big fashion events happening in other cities.
Despite being based in Johannesburg now, she said it was important to plough back home and also celebrate the province’s arts and culture.
“We really want to inspire and motivate students to enroll in fashion design. We also hope to show them that there is more to the industry than working at a clothing store.”
Mqunyane said one of the aims of the fashion show was to also break the norms created in the fashion industry.
Fashion designers made use of regular models from all over the country in all shapes and sizes to showcase their items.
She said they strategically chose to have the event outside, close to the beach to show off the beautiful city.
WSU fashion design lecturer Mary Akrasi-Boateng said she was happy to have been part of the event as this was a great opportunty for students.
She said the festival would not only open doors for students, but would also get them ready for third year.
“Mine is to make sure that I get the potential out of every student and really expose ther capabilities. This will serve as an intro for students to host their own fashion show as part of their third-year curriculum,” said Boateng.
Fashion design student Nikki Kali said she was very excited and grateful for the opportunity to show people her designs. She said this would also be a great opportunity to meet new people and see what other designers are doing.
“My designs are very different and out of the ordinary. Given the theme, I’ve used a lot of African prints. I’ve enjoyed the whole process,” said Kali. —