Day 83 . 14 .07.2011

Cape Town fashion week has begun. This is my favourite time of the year, as the streets are filled with quirky and chic individuals all over the city. Yesterday was the Foschini AFI FASTRACK event. This event is the official opening of Fashion Week and it gave new design students and fashion entrepreneurs a platform to display their visual interpretation of what fashion is today. This event was held at the CTICC in the city centre and most importantly, it was for free.

There were plenty of speakers, discussing the process in which a designer takes, from the idea itself to how the garment or collection is put on the shelves in retail stores. Foschini showcased its new range and so did twenty graduate students from fashion colleges.

I wasn’t able to stay as long, however I was able to see Karla Hyman, Pietrie Morton, Tina Loftus and Dalena Le Roes.  My favourite designer was Dalena Le Roes. Her collection was inspired by the 1960’s style icon Audrey Hepburn and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis .Her range’s signature look elements were the perfect handbags , polka dot prints and capri pants.

She kept it simple and had very elegant appearances on each model. She emphasized the models tall and slim physique and I too could see that they felt sexy in their garments.

Overall it was a great afternoon spent with Mpilo Ngcukana (founder and designer for Simon Deporres along with Simon Pocock) and Tshakgi Mannya (Aluxism) and much needed after spending a morning filled with admin for the exhibition.

Checking out

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Day 81 . 12 .07.2011

The lovely Tshakgi Mannya, who is designing a garment for me, for the opening of the exhibition, is in town. As expected, she would tell me to drop everything I had planned and go with her to the Cape Town Fashion Week dinner launch hosted by AFI in Mouille Point; at an Italian restaurant we locals love, called Pepenero. AFI's aim is to promote and develop South Africa and African fashion and bring it into the mainstream. The night was great and everyone in the room looked so stylish. I met a lot of fun and warm people and found myself clubbing with them later.

Allana Finley (Marketing manager of AFI) welcomed us all with a great introduction about the purpose of the night and Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe (Chairperson of AFI - African Fashion International) spoke to us about Africa's vision for fashion and how it effects the economy, how it contributes positively to our continent socially and how far we have come as a continent in the world of fashion.

I bumped into my friend Kwena Baloyi (Fashion Assistant for Drum) and finally met Oratile Seabela (new Fashion Editor of Drum) who is so genuine and warm. Our table was filled with women, which resulted in a lot of gossip and laughter.

Thank you to the AFI team for an amazing night. I am looking forward to a week of fashion.

Checking out

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