What’s better than Black Coffee on a cold day?

Black Coffee

I’ve documented my fashion crush on Black Coffee here before, but there ain’t no shame in my love for that label. Jacques and Danica outdid themselves at New York Fashion Week, presenting their Fall 2010 collection at the Arise African Collective show.

Here’s what David Kaufman of Wallpaper said:

Johannesburg-based Black Coffee launched the show with their intriguing interpretation of the classic winter coat – re-imagined as cocoon-like shells draped over the body, cinched and layered at the waist, or rouched from behind in precise, almost couture-like pleats. Rendered in earthy, aquatic tones, the coats’ tailored volume was balanced by a suite of equally on-tone jersey dresses that were clingy up top, yet delicately billowed at the hem-line.

Well, all I can say is *sigh*.

Black Coffee: I want, I want and, oh yeah, I want!

Pics via.

‘I want to be … a woman’s best friend & secret weapon’

Designer Thula Sindi

Thula Sindi – designer extraordinaire – recently let African Fashion International into his mental-mind-space…

When designing a collection, my reference/point of departure is always
clothing itself. I design “clothes about clothes”, either tweaking them by manipulating darts and panels or experimenting with fabrics and details. For this season my focus was on colour how to use it in a way that was summery and light but still modern, sophisticated and wearable especially during the day.

My latest collection is a story about a glimpse of a woman who is slightly jaded by life but still manages to be optimistic at the same time. Her taste is impeccable and every inch of her groomed in an effortless way.

The most innovative thing about my last collection are the two charcoal grey cotton knit dresses. They are meticulously draped and hand tacked and took tens of hours to create and finalise, but it resulted in effortless and unexpected beauty. It was like turning matte grey into the proverbial gold.

I understand quality in fashion to be the search for excellence in standards through the entire value chain of the garment – from design/conceptualisation, fabrication, fit and garment assembly all the way to store display, customer service and wear/care.

The next steps that I will be taking to continue my development are to grow my business organically whilst searching for outlets that fit into my business structure and style. There is lots on the go at the moment.

South African fashion design is defined by very different points of view.

I collaborate with no one really. I still have so much to say that there is no need to collaborate so early in the game. People still need to get to know who THULA SINDI is. The closest I get to collaboration is with Mary Reynolds of Tramps productions. We work really closely when it comes to producing my shows and with Martin Myers who knows how to use music to convey the emotion to the audience. They really understand my point of view.

In a tough economic climate my customers think more closely about what they are buying.

The last time I laughed really hard it was because
I explained to my assistant Bonolo that a chicken’s head (a local delicacy in Klerksdorp) is called an AYAS. She looked so appalled that I even knew that. I realised we definitely from different generations.

I want to become known as a woman’s best friend and secret weapon, offering beautiful fashion solutions and bringing real value back to designer clothing.

 

‘My customers can actually afford my products’

Native's exhibit at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Awards

Props to African Fashion International and the great work they’re doing showcasing SA design talent. Every month they profile a designer and his/ her plans for the future. This month it’s all about Mister Craig Native.

Craig Native: 'You can't separate culture and fashion'

When designing a collection, my references/point of departure is always the African lifestyle. But not all the stereotypes of Africa and all that stuff they put in tourist magazines, rather the authentic experience of people who have been born and raised here in Africa. More specifically, my own Africa and life here – I was raised in a typical working class, Afrikaans ‘coloured’ household where there is a rich and complex urban culture that is uniquely African. You can’t separate culture from fashion – one goes with the other.

My latest collection is a story about the Kaapse Klopse. Known by the authorities as the Cape Minstrels and by the locals as the Coons, they have been around for a very long time. It is a type of South African culture that I wanted to see recognised in a fashionable way as they have never been used before as a source of inspiration.

The most innovative thing about my new collection is sporty bodysuits with some ethnic details.

The next steps that I will be taking to continue my development are getting involved and working with a project group who are supporting African cotton farmers.

I understand quality in fashion to be culture and cloth. As I have said, you can’t separate culture and fashion and Native stands for true tradition mixed with humour and fashionability. Just expressed through cloth.

South African fashion design is defined by financial constraints and realities. And while this is a real issue for all of us in the industry, what I really want the Native brand to do is promote authentic South Africanism through my design, so that it is real to the people who buy it, and provides a snapshot of our culture to those who look at it.

I collaborate with Adidas on a track suit top for the supporters of the FIFA Football World Cup in 2010.

As a sports guy, I design practical yet interesting products that people actually wear. At Design Indaba I had a break dancing team perform in my clothes as the showcase.

In a tough economic climate my customers can actually afford my products.

I want to become known as the enfant terrible of the South African fashion industry but I don’t regret it. Fashion will always reflect the times. Right now, times are pretty tense and the Native brand likes to add a bit of chilli to the mix.

www.craignative.com