In the name of fashion

Ah, fashion week. That glorious time of year when the country’s foremost style stars gather in a room to take some selfies, gab about their favourite designers and hopefully watch a show or two. We attended a member of fashion week's (very) extended family, SA Menswear Week, and decided to share a little feedback on a few of our fave shows.

Maxhosa by Laduma Ngxokolo

First up, Laduma. We’ve come to expect a lot from the Port Elizabeth designer since he started his collection five years ago. Not only has he breathed new life into the world of menswear but he’s garnered massive amounts of international attention, most recently showing at Pitti Uomo in Italy.

While the wait before the show made us wish we’d stashed a secret supply of almonds (read: a hip flask) in our bag, it was all worth it when the models started walking the runway. Laduma definitely didn’t disappoint with his range of beautifully knitted cardigans and shirts which he extended to included shorts and joggers in vibrant, aesthetically pleasing patterns. The best part? Each of the items was reversible which added a unique touch to a well executed collection.

Lukhanyo Mdingi

As you can see from this interview, we think Lukhanyo is pretty damn cool, and his show on Friday night reaffirmed all of our beliefs. While we loved the array of vibrant prints and bold colour combinations happening all over fashion week, we were blown away when his blue collection swept onto the runway like a breath of fresh air.

The range was designed to be worn by both men and women (a trend that was all over fashion week, man dress, anyone?) and Lukhanyo said that he turned East for inspiration. The result? A range focused on layering and texture that was streamline, modern, edgy and wearable all at once. 

Oath by Rich Mnisi

From the styling to the cuts, it’s safe to say that Rich Mnisi’s collections are always on point, but this season, he really stepped it up a notch. Our stylist and office fashion guru Mira Leibowitz was super impressed. “He stayed true to his love for digital prints, mesh and sports luxe styling but he really changed it up with a utilitarian vibe and out-of-this world colour palette. The cobalt blue and orange looked beautiful against the range of fabrics and prints, and the whole show had an international vibe”.

So there you have it, folks, some of our thoughts on a few of our favourite shows. Let us know yours in the comment section below!