I like platforms that allow designers to showcase their talent and have the opportunity to be discovered by different people whom without the platform wouldn’t necessarily know what talent is out there. As usual I was super excited when we got the invite to the Soweto Fashion Week Summer Spring 2016. I was excited to go and see what emerging designers are up to and if I could be blown away, phela these days I feel like I have fashion fatigue, everything just looks the same or it is just too ‘non-conforming’ to mainstream fashion that you wonder if there is really a market for such. The demand for fashionable clothing is so high I often feel like designers are slowly losing it just a bit while trying to encompass all the different types of needs fashion followers have.
The Soweto Fashion Week was established in 2011 with the aim to be a platform that showcases brand and label established and upcoming designers in South Africa.
I hate waiting, but who doesn’t really? Yhoo! I’ve never waited for so long for a show to start, yhuuu! So I got to Jabulani Theatre at 17h30, collected my media pass and was told that the show was going to start at 18h00 kanti dololo. Guys these people started at 20h00, 8pm kere I was super naar and when the show finally started it was almost a blur. African time ke moleko struu!
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Anyway, here is what went down…
Looking fashionable here is Jean – Daniel and TV Presenter Ayanda, any girl with a head-wrap stays winning for me, I need to polish my head-wrap game strongly!!
Fashion graduates looking super phly Mbali and Tshepi of Blanq Canvas
Seipati and her sister Poppy were there to support Kasified
Lovely ladies, these two are super cute and cool Waldlie and Nikki, I first met them at the #JoburgShoppingFest media breakfast and it was great to see them again!
A #CloseUp because I can and because the curly hair is just too good I wanna keep looking at her 
Bag and shoes, momma I like Thandeka looking all chic
Michelle from Canon
Also from Canon this is Phumla strutting a pose with her girly dress, it took me some time to get why she was holding the dress like that. I then realise she was showing us the flower…
Looking good, because black does just that this is Busisiwe
Some behind the scenes, because #BigHairDon’tCare
Models waiting to take a sit in the make-up chair
So, Darling is the principal sponsor for Soweto fashion Week and models were styled to showcase the different hairdos you can play around with using Darling hairpieces.
Isn’t she lovely?
And finally after waiting for what seemed like ages, the show started… *sigh*
Darling had to showcase what we can do with the brands hairpiece, models walked the runway with loads of hairpiece in their heads, and she was my favourite. Super beautiful, I hope to see her in more runways.
Yatu Jewellery: First to showcase jewellery pieces, I still say that oversized accessories win my heart over and over
Yay or nay?
If your summer body is ready and you wanna be a hit at the beach, get your swimwear jewellery…
Spank Human: I mostly just liked this model, scruffy and cute. Yes ma! Oh and the ensemble is good too
Give me a Maasai blanket any day and I will worship you!
This model had the walk, the smize and the charisma to get the room screaming!
So the names of the designers were mentioned by the host before each walk and not projected so I missed and I wouldn’t want to mess the names and the clothes up, apologies! Both outfits are a winner
Chic and oh so cute, yes please
When them boys look dapper!
My guy, lol!
How gorgeous is the model, how majestic is this dress! Fire, fire, waya – waya
The top is beautiful
The beadwork, the ensemble, pure perfection! Ndlovukazi, ndoni yamanzi…
Simple, but yet beautiful
The touch of print brought life to this simple navy outfit
A shift dress with a touch of print, it works well…
Miguel: What’s a fashion show without topless man?!
And it was a wrap! Handsomely suited up, do you like?
Kudos to all the designers that showcased on the night, your work looks good. Like I said fam, I think I am suffering from ‘similarity fashion fatigue’! Apart from the Maasai blankets and the beaded jewellery, I wasn’t really blown away. I tried to go to the buyers lounge which was supposed to be set up after the show, I waited for about 35minutes and there was no sign of designers or the clothes for keen buyers, otherwise I would have left broke from paying deposit for the Maasai neckpiece and the blanket. Thank you for the invite, the organisers need to be more organised next time hlee. I was never ready to wait for 2-hours, never! I missed day – 3 because I was just too discouraged by my 1st attendance.
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So what did you like? What would you buy from these local designers?
By Zintle Daraza
@Zdaraza