39 of 2018

Newsletter No. 39                                                                                12 October  2018

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African, Asian fashion meet at #AFIJFW

By Thobile Mazibuko

MaXhosa by Laduma. Picture: Dimpho Maja/ ANA.

Under the Afro-Asia theme, local and international designers showcased their latest collections at African Fashion International Joburg Fashion Week (AFIJFW) in Melrose Arch, which started on October 4 and runs until October 7.

On day 1, menswear took all the shine when AERO opened the show with a stunning street style collection featuring Nao Serati, D.O.P.E, and Mahone.

All the way from China, AntiArch also presented a menswear collection of flared shorts and oversized shirts.

Irmgard Mkhabela wowed the crowd with his athleisure wear of tights and cropped tops in neon colours such as pink and lime green.

Representing Tanzania, Sheria Ngowi lived up to his high expectations and presented clean cut formal suits and ankle grazer bottoms, matched with satin shirts.

Day 2 started on a high note, with the Tshwane University of Technology fashion and design students bringing their all – proving that the future of SA fashion is in the right hands.

Drawing inspiration from the desert dews and the sunset, crochet designer Tanele Zwane showcased summer dresses in vertical and rhombus patterns.

“My aim as a designer is to recreate handmade clothing, make people appreciate the art of crochet. I really hope they could also have a sentimental value for handmade garments that are stylish and can last for a very long time,” says Zwane.

Monochrome by MaXhosa by Laduma. Dimpho Maja African News Agency (ANA)

Also bringing his luxurious aesthetic patterns to the runway was Maxhosa by Laduma – who presented a mixture of men’s skirts, stylish summer shorts, cool cardigans and of course, his signature socks.

Legendary brand, Presidential closed the show with elegance by presenting suits in African prints and clashing patterns.

The Presidential three-piece number. 
 Dimpho Maja African News Agency (ANA).

To bring even more drama to the runway, the iconic brand added a well-detailed show stopper gown to their collection- a look that turned heads.

While other international designers such as 5-knot, who hails from Tokyo, showcased a charming summer collection to an enthusiastic audience of influencers, fashion critics and the media, CLAN and Deola Sagoe of Nigeria could not make it to South Africa to present their collections.

Day 3 of AFIJFW saw Beach Cult and Gabrielle Swimwear present sexy swimwear under the sun at the Fire & Ice pool.

Sexy bikini by Beach Cult. Picture: AFI.

The Botswana Collections featuring Mothusi Lesolle, Boitumelo Seboko, Black Trash, Aobakwe Molosiwa, Sharon Taolo and Lesedi Matlapeng showcased exquisite creations in Shweshwe fabrics and  see-through sheer garments.

Imprint also made it a point to leave a mark with their summer collection of prints on print and rigid shapes.

Imprint on the runway. Picture: AFI.

Others that showcased are Kahindo, Quiteria & George, CAFE by David Tlale, Bul- bulia Threads, Kreyann, Ruff Tung, Tuelo Nguyuza, Marianne Fassler, Eric Raisina and Scalo.

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Positive disruption-the golden age of retail

Ken Hughes will share his insights of the future of consumer at the 22nd (SACSC) Annual Congress which will take place at the Durban International Convention Centre next week. Picture: Supplied.

With the world facing a rapid change mostly fueled by technology, the now infamous ‘Generation Z’ and ‘Millennial’ culture continues to cause disruption.

Said to be one of the world’s leading consumer and shopper behaviour experts, Ken Hughes will share his insights of the future of consumer and how retail needs to change in order to remain relevant, at the 22nd South African Council of Shopping Centre’s (SACSC) Annual Congress which will take place at the Durban International Convention Centre next week.

According to Hughes, the 20 to the 35-year-old consumer of today has a fundamentally different value system to Gen X or the Baby Boomer generation that came before.

“They value different things. They want to live their lives differently, they want to work differently. They demand freedom in how and where they buy,” says Hughes.

To highlight the key points brought by the technological change in retail and how to adjust to it, Hughes shares the following 3 points.

• The millennial and Gen Z shopper blueprint have changed, thereby impacting on their fundamental behaviours, needs and requirements as shoppers. Businesses need to tilt their axis toward the new value systems of the future consumer.

• This generation is less interested in buying ‘things’ and far more interested in having ‘experiences. Every brand or business should be asking itself how they can we use their brand to deliver the kind of life experiences this generation expect, and add real value within the new emerging ‘Sharing Economy.

• The P2P (Peer-to-Peer) networks have overtaken the brands’ own voice in terms of relevance. Businesses need to build conversations with their target market by being part of this P2P conversation, not an outsider.

SACSC Chief Executive Officer, Amanda Stops says Ken’s insights will prove invaluable to those key players in South Africa’s retail and shopping centre industry in attendance at this year’s Congress.

“The opportunity to hear the insights from Ken Hughes, world renown consumer and behaviour expert is a rare one, and therefore all are encouraged to take this opportunity and not miss out on the value he adds. It is definitely an opportunity not to be missed as his insights could make us change the way we approach retail in SA,” says Stops . iol Lifestyle

Ethiopia sets up industrial park for textile, apparel

Ethiopia has set up Adama Industrial park in the Oromia region for sectors like textile, apparel, vehicle assembly and food processing. The park is expected to generate about a million jobs. The park was inaugurated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The Oromia region is the largest and most populous, and is the home region of the prime minister.

Adama, also known as Nazreth, is a city in central Ethiopia and the previous capital of the Oromia. Adama forms a Special Zone of Oromia.

The prime minister’s chief of staff wrote on Twitter that the “park is an important addition to a network of world class, sustainable eco-industrial parks in Ethiopia ready for plug and play investment. Productive investments strengthen the base of our economy and generate sustainable jobs.”

According to the Ethiopian Investment Commission, these parks are set up for specific sectors such as textile and apparel, leather and leather products, pharmaceutical, and agro-processing. The Adama Park joins others like the flagship Hawassa Industrial Park and the Bole Lemi Industrial Park.

The country will open more such parks including Dire Dawa, Kilinto, Arerti, Bole Lemi II and Debre Berhan Industrial Parks.

Ethiopian government has often taken high-profile visitors to tour these parks. The International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde, Rwandan President Paul Kagame and President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea have all visited these parks during their visit to the country. F2F

Did you know……..

Up until the beginning of the 19^th century, models were not used to showcase clothes. Fashion companies would use dolls instead.

Harry Winston was the designer of the most expensive shoes in the world. The red ruby slippers he designed sold for $3 million.

Queen Juana, from Portugal, wore the first hoop skirt in a bid to hide the fact she was pregnant