Bay designer, entourage off to gala show in Joburg
Bay designer Jason Kieck heads to Pretoria this weekend to present his annual couture show, the first time he and charity beneficiary the Igazi Foundation will be hosting the glam entertainment gala in two major centres.
This year’s exotic Asianthemed show, Whispers of the Orient, will be held on Saturday September 8 at Sun Times Square in Pretoria and repeated in Port Elizabeth at the Boardwalk International Convention Centre on Saturday October 20.
“There is so much that goes into a show like this, it’s a huge production because it is not just a fashion show,” he said.
Kieck and Igazi together will be taking 30 people to the capital city. Former Bay model Mikaela Oosthuizen, who now lives in Johannesburg, will take part in the show but the other 12 models will fly up for the weekend performance.
“We are very excited – it will be a stunning show,” said Kieck. “We have a fantastic MC in Ian von Memerty and topclass entertainment: soprano Hlengiwe Mkhwanazi, for example, will sing an extract from Madame Butterfly, the Puccini opera set in Japan.”
Other artists include 3 Tons of Fun and DJ Floyd.
Brett Hoppe, formerly general manager at the Boardwalk, is now at the Sun Times Square in Pretoria and it was through this connection that the Tshwane event developed.
“I don’t think any other designer in the county has been offered a platform like this so we are looking forward to this being the first step of many to other possibilities,” Kieck said.
He is particularly looking forward to seeing Miss SA 2018 Tamaryn Green in his work.
“They haven’t sent her measurements so I’ve ‘guestimated’ from watching her on TV!”
Other celebrity guests include another ex-Miss SA, Basetsane Khumalo, and the team from The Wedding Bashers.
The Igazi Foundation is a charity focused on treatment for blood diseases, most notably blood cancers.
The R1,500 Pretoria ticket price (R1,000 for PE) includes a five-course dinner with flavours evoking the Orient.
● More information on Whispers of the Orient from www.jasonkieck.com