Designer Profile

Jamal Nxedlana

http://perfectgentlemansa.blogspot.com

Jamal completed his B-Tech in Fashion Design at the Durban University of Technology in 2007 after which he moved to London, England where he gained valued experience at the Ethical Fashion Forum, Dazed and Confused and The Super Super .

After his long stay in London he came back with his knowledge and experiences to South Africa and settled in Johannesburg, Gauteng where through his unique approach to fashion made a reputation for himself, one to be reckoned with.

That is not all that has given Jamal the ability to create a good name for himself, in fact I believe his successes are due to the fact that he was exposed to fashion at an early age by his mother, Fikile Nxedlana who now co-owns the label Missshape with him.

'A reference to the essence of our clothing'

Missshape is a womenswear label created in Johannesburg by Fikile and Jamal Nxedlana as a capsule collection for Autumn/Winter 2012 when they took on the SA Fashion Week Renault New Talent Search.

The label is now Durban based, which means Jamal has to live and work between Johannesburg and Durban. Missshape caters for women of all sizes and shapes. Being a curvaceous woman herself, Fikile has worked with woman of the body type and has been able to come up with a metric system that is specific to the curvaceous woman and in an industry that is accustomed to designing clothes for skinny women, being able to create stylish and well fitting clothes for women with curves really sets their brand apart.

These are some of their creations from when they first started:

Their latest collection - Autumn/Winter 2014 - has been launched as a lookbook.

With this collection they showed their creative buds with the use of denim in an unconventional way and pushed the boundaries of its traditional use together with more soft fabrics. "I wanted to treat denim in a much softer way by draping it and gathering it, combining it with soft, fluid fabrics",said creative director of the brand, Jamal.

Apart from expressing himself through fashion design, Jamal is also involved in photography, film, performance and blogging. He also co-founded an artist group in 2011 called CUSS, where he works with various artists from Johannesburg.

Jamal, we're watching you!

Contacts:

Jamal on twitter

Jamal on facebook

Jamal on tumblr

MISSSHAPE

E-mail: jamal@cussgroup.com
       

Guess..? Reveal

You guessed it right chinaz. Our Designer profiles guests are Natasha Jaume and Carina Louw of ERRE

SDR photo - Natasha(left) & Carina(right) at SAFW

Up Next

Designer Profiles

                             Duo: Natasha Jaume and Carina Louw

: Natasha is mostly known for her Senorita Couture Studio (Pretoria) which was established in 2007. She studied Fashion Design and Marketing at Allenby College and she started her career as a fashion designer when she graduated in 2004.

photo by Anne-Lise Botha

: Carina on the other hand studied Fashion Design Technology at Tshwane University of Technology and I know her by her book on avant-garde design in the fashion business under the Tshwane University of Technology.

These two creatives came together and came up with a brand that focuses on quality fabrics, tactility, craftsmanship and the perfect fit.

Carina Louw (left) and Natasha Jaume

A new kind of power dressing

Erre which means 'to journey' "infuses everyday fashion with the feeling of exoticism experience by travel.The brand is aimed at corporate women and provides a wardrobe that can be worn on and off duty. Erre seeks to approach the use of leather from a new and bold angle and push the boundaries of its traditional use and ultimately enhance the quality and style of this timeless material.

They launched this brand at the Autumn/Winter South African Fashion Week in October. 

Their collection was inspired by the collective travels of the two designers - 'the beauty of Africa, the patterns of Morocco and  the colours of Spain'. It is coupled with French luxury and Russian adventure and all of this resulting in intrigue and boldness.

This brand is sure to be a success in the industry as it stands out from the rest, it is clearly in a league of its own.

Contacts:  

• Natasha Jaume:  njaume@mweb.co.za 
• Carina Louw:     louw.carina@gmail.com
• ERRE:               Erre Fashion

Adress (ERRE): 161 Milner street, Waterkloof, Pretoria, Gauteng

xoxo

SiyaKade

                             

Guess..?

It's that time again chinaz. Let's see how well you know the South African fashion industry.Guess who will be next on our Designer profiles this Friday. 

Fast facts about the designer(s):

1. The label is headed by 2 women.
2. Their label was launched at the A/W South Africa Fashion Week in October 2013.
3. Their studio is in Pretoria, Gauteng.

Clue:  The label name means 'to journey'

Designer(s) to be revealed on Friday

Good luck


xoxo
SiyaKade

Author's Letter

Hello fashionista

Over the past 2 months I have featured South African fashion designers like Ruald Rheeder, Kelly Davids and last week Khothatso Tsotetsi among others and one international - New York based designer Farai Simoyi and I will continue to bring you your favorites throughout the year. I hope you are inspired every week.

Let us keep supporting South African fashion by growing this blog and by interacting on facebook, twitter, Google+ and other social networks.

Remember, if you missed out on the event, you can visit the African Fashion International website for all the behind the scenes content and designers from the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Africa.

www.afi.za.com

                          

xoxo

SiyaKade

Designer Profile

Khothatso Tsotetsi

The designer is Verneeriging born and did fashion design technology at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).
His career began when he used his own savings to buy himself a sewing machine in Grade 8 and immediately started with sewing curtains & scatter cushions and making clothing alterations without charging for it.

Throughout his studies at TUT he interned at Mornachy Couture and Clive Rundle in his final year.

 Achievements: 

• Won the Eco-design competition and a chance to exhibit in Sweden (2010)
• Awarded the best innovative range and best entrepreneurial student at his end of year annual fashion show (2011)
• Chosen as an AFI Fasttrack finalist (2012) and the chance to showcase at the  2012 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Johannesburg:    

SDR photo

SDR photo

SDR photo

                       

His latest showcase was at the 2013 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Johannesburg in March with collections that define the modern daring woman:

It's no wonder why his garments have graced publications like Marie Claire and The Sowetan among others.
He has created a good name for himself and he is sure to redefine modern fashion. What I like about him is his consistent growth and unique approach to fashion.

Contacts:

• Blog:            khothatsotsotetsi
• Facebook:    /khothatso.laurence
• E-mail:          KLtsotetsi@gmail.com
• Cel.:              +2772 933 6598

xoxo
SiyaKade  

Guess..? Reveal

Yup, that's right. Our designer profile guest is: Khothatso Laurence Tsotetsi of Tsotetsi KL

Up next

Guess..?

Come on chinaz. Let's see how well you know the fashion industry. Guess who's next on our Designer profiles.

Fast facts about the designer:

1. Vereeniging born.
2. Tshwane University of Technology graduate in fashion design.
3. Has interned with Clive Rundell and Monarchy Couture

Clue:  The guy is known to have bought himself a sewing machine while he was in Grade 8 with his own savings.

                                          Designer to be revealed tomorrow
Good luck

xoxo
@SiyaKade

Author's Letter

Hello fashionista

We are growing and growing fast.

As you can see in the statistic map our audience is starting to broaden to other countries and this is all thanks to people who share my posts on Google+, twitter, facebook and other social networks. Please to continue to support South African fashion by participating in this blog and letting other people know about it.

And dont forget that tomorrow will see the beginning of the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Africa, here is what to expect: 

image extracted from www.afi.za.com

Until another designer profiling, good week and take care.

xoxo

@Siya_Kade

Designer Profile

Archibald Monyepao

Archie Monyepao

The fashion designer was born in Johannesburg, he attended the Tshwane University of Technology where he did design. Although his studios are in Pretoria he is based in East London where he relocated to in 2010 to join Walter Sisulu University's Fashion Design Department as a lecturer. 

He owns a brand named Monarchy Couture 

While the label has been around for longer, the official label launch was done in September 2012. The brand is all about making people realise the importance of appearance in many ways and Archie says his collections are centred around his mother as he draws inspiration from her.

This year he is showing off his collections at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Africa for the second year in a row. The Walter Sisulu University is proud of him and so am I.

Contacts:  MonarchyCouture@gmail.com

                Facebook: Mornarchy Couture

                     

                Tel: 012 386 0839 

Adress:  66 Inner Crescent Street Pretoria West

              Pretoria, South Africa

              0001

xoxo

@Siya_Kade

Guess..? Reveal

That's right. Our designer profile guest is:  Archibald Monyepao of Mornachy Couture

                                                                   Up Next
                                                                         

Guess..?

Come on chinaz. Let's see how well you know the fashion industry. Guess who's next on our Designer profiles.

Fast facts about the designer:

1. He/she was born in Johannesburg, Gauteng and relocated to East London, Eastern Cape in 2010.
2. He/she is a lecturer at Walter Sisulu University.
3. He/she will be showing his designs at the Mercedes Benz Africa Fashion Week in Pretoria.

Clue: 'Kingdom' can be used in place of his label's name

he/she

                                                       Designer to be exposed on Friday

xoxo
@Siya_Kade

Author's Letter

Hello fashionista

My goal behind the creation of this blog is to inspire and captivate aspiring fashion designers and, on the way, those designers that are established. I believe my audience/follower is a fashion business fanatic or one that just loves the fashion industry and its counterparts.

Last week our blog has done incredibly well as we published our first designer inspiration: Ruald Rheeder

Page views went up to 247 with audiences in areas indicated in green on the map>>>

audience statistic map

As we go into a new week together I would like to see more people interacting and helping towards the growth of this blog. To ensure that growth I will publish weekly - an Author's Letter to help me see what you want from me, a Guess..? quiz to test your knowledge of the South African fashion industry, and a Designer Profile which will be the main feature.

Please help me have more people like you part of this blog by sharing the word with your friends, acquaintances, loved ones and those strangers that you just know love the fashion business. You can do that by making use of the share buttons on the bottom of each post.

If you would like me to feature on this blog anyone you know personally or someone who dresses your favourite celebrity  or just making waves in the fashion industry or yourself even, let me know via the comment box or join my circles on Google+  or here: Facebook - Siya Kade
                                                                                 Twitter: @Siya_Kade

Before I let you go, do not forget that African Fashion International is getting ready to host Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Africa at the city of Tshwane in Gauteng from 30 October - 02 November which is less than 2 weeks away so get your gears ready. Established South African fashion Designers like David Tlale, Thula Sindi and Marianne Fassler will be showcasing.

image courtesy of www.afi.za.com

I can't wait, can you?


xoxo
@Siya_Kade

Designer Profile

An inspiration to many: Ruald Rheeder

image extracted from www.rualdrheeder.co.za

A Cape Town based fashion designer mostly known for his menswear collections is first to fall under my inspirations in the short history of this blog.

After completing his tertiary studies in Cape Town he started his career designing for various labels and designers and then went on to launch his own signature line - Ruald Rheeder - which is available exclusively at  the Young Designers Emporium (YDE) countrywide (South Africa).

They provide custom couture designs and as the face of the menswear brand is Jonathan Boynton-Lee. In 2013 it has officialy launched the ladieswear collection in YDE stores countrywide having Leigh-Anne Williams as the face of the brand.

Jonathan Boynton-Lee

Leigh-Anne Williams

The brand has been a success as it has become one of the best selling men's labels in YDE and that has won Ruald the "Best New Designer" award recently after the line had launched and in 2012 "The most consistently excellent performing designer" award at the YDE awards.

Take note that the Ruald Rheeder Collection is shown annually at both the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Cape Town and the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Johannesburg

MBFWJ - www.rualdrheeder.co.za

Contact them here:

Website: www.rualdrheeder.co.za

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ruald-Rheeder/138359106280764

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rualdrheeder‎

E-mail: Ruald@rualdrheeder.co.za

Adress: 5 Hershel Walk
            Unit B, Mont Clair Terraces
            Claremont
            Cape Town 

Designer Profile

Kelly Davids - who co-owns Milq and Honey with her sister Gabriella Davids - is our darling for this week.



Kelly & Gabriella Davids at MBFWCT - image by Simon Deiner/SDR

While Gabriella is more focused on the beauty and health side of the brand, Kelly is the one behind the fashion, she is the inspiration behind the runway shows.

Their clothing label 

 Inspired by the shapes of natural surroundings, patterns, the energy colours - emerged in 2012 from  the then Milq and Honey brand and they have been turning heads since then. What I like the most about them is that proceedings from their fashion shows are given over to the Cancer Research Wing of the Groote Schuur Hospital.

They are a merge between fashion, beauty and health and are there to celebrate the beauty of women.

A year later they opened the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Cape Town with an edgy and ultra-chic collection:



   

Interact with them here:  



Website:  milqandhoney.co.za



Facebook:  Milq and Honey House of Fashion, Health and Beauty

Twitter:   @MilqandHoney 

omnivogue.wordpress.com

xoxo

@Siya_Kade