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

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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

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