SAFW Collection Dates: September 2011

SAFW has released the dates for their Winter Collections:
September 23 - 25, 2011 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

SAFW Buyer's Lounge and Networking Day: September 26th
http://www.safashionweek.co.za/

SA Fashion Week: 13 years!

It has been my delight to follow South African Fashion Week (SAFW) over the years. For my own curiosity I decided to put a "google alert" feature alongside the event inorder to read what others are saying about SA Fashion Week. I love the fact that this feature pops the latest reviews on it in my e-mail inbox. Here are some of the best reviews:
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Dazed & Confused-
http://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/8693/1/south-african-fashion-week
City Press -http://www.citypress.co.za/Lifestyle/News/Fashions-First-Lady-20101002
Sowetan - Busty models take to the ramp  - http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/goodlife/2010/10/06/busty-models-take-to-the-ramp
CP Africa - Top 7 Trends at SAFW: www.cp-africa.com/.../top-7-trends-sa-fashion-week-winter-co...
Photo: SAFW (Ivan Naude) Designer: Vesselina

SA Fashion Week and Blackberry Team Up!

As some of you know, I have been a huge fan of South African Fashion Week (SA Fashion Week) over the years. I've covered their collections in different publications because I wanted the global fashion industry to know about the incredible design talents from my homeland. But with their up-coming season, (March 25 - 27 Summer Collections - Summer Exhibiton) their collections will also be covered in a new, global arena courtesy of the Blackberry Smartphone!

According to one of the latest SA Fashion Week newsletters that I received, "Blackberry is proud to be the Offical Smartphone partner for SA Fashion Week. Blackberry has supplied the core SA Fashion Week team with Blackberry Smartphones to help them stay in touch and will also support the team with recently launched Blackberry Enterprise Server Express. This will ensure interactivity as well as effective and efficent communication leading up to and during this year's SA Fashion Week".

This collaboration reminds me of the "Logged On" article in the March 2010 issue of US Vogue (pages 514 - 524) in which the article zooms in on the new players in fashion. These are the bloggers that have a sense of style; a solid voice and by logging their style information via the keyboard, we have listened. I know that the SA Fashion Week and Blackberry collaboration will be an incredible outlet to the global fashion industry as we follow their style observations from SA Fashion Week via the world wide web. Can't wait, V. photos courtesy - safw & photobucket

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Bloggers featured in Logged On, Vogue March 2010 -

Michelle Phan -

Todd Selby -

Tommy Ton -

Yvan Rodic -

Bryanboy -

Hanneli Mustaparta -

Garance Dore -

Catherine Kallon -

Mary Tomer -

In-House Design Line with SA Fashion Week

SA Fashion Week (SAFW) has been the catalyst to incredible design lines over the years. So, I was delighted to view the images from Soda, SA Fashion Week's in-house range of garments and accessories, developed in partnership with SAFW and DAC fashion fusion crafter network. Designer, Anna-Mari Claasen, Soda, works with crafters on an on-going basis to create a range that captures a true South African design aesthetic. For this review, I did a short Q & A with Danielle Armer, SAFW, regarding the line:
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Q & A -
Q: What is the retail price of above Soda design?
A: R700.00 = $104.00 = 65.00 pounds
Q: "Is the dress available via the internet?"
A" "We are looking to create an online shopping site. In the meantime, Soda has a Facebook Fanpage".
photo courtesy: safw

South African Fashion Week – 2010

new year!
new goals!


Q & A:
In Conversation with Lucilla Booyzen, Founder & Director -
South African Fashion Week:

1. the name change by December 2009 -
Q: "How do you feel about Sanlam SA Fashion Week re-named SA Fashion Week?"
A: "We are very excited to have our own identity back since there are many restrictions when you link your brand with a sponsor. For example, the freedom that is so needed within the creative process is not always possible as you have to incorporate the brand that gives you the funding. However, on the other hand, linking our brand to Sanlam was not only beneficial to us at SA Fashion Week but also to the designers. Sanlam being a financial institution gave the SA Creative Fashion Design Industry the credibility that they needed to forge ahead. The designers learnt a lot about the business of fashion through the mentorship programs that Sanlam did during 2009”.

2. the other fashion weeks in South Africa -
Q: "As far as you know have the other fashion weeks in South Africa joined the new media industry with a presence on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or a Blog hosting site?"
A: "I am not aware of it"

3. the archives -
Q: "Which platform are you using to document the archives of past collections of SA Fashion Week?
A: "We document all material so the information is available by contacting our office directly".

4. xmas 2009 -
Q: "In a previous interview you mentioned that for Xmas 2009 you are supporting designs made by hand. Do you think that the website Etsy can be an option for those artists to promote their work and gain global recognition? In my opinion, Etsy, happens to be the most innovative website for handmade products. Looking forward to your take on the matter as it relates to South Africa's talent.
A:"I think it will be a great platform. We will look into Etsy as a marketing option for the artists and designers".

5. your inner-circle -
Q: "As you continue to direct the path of SA Fashion Week, who would you count as insiders to your inner-circle when it comes to key decisions?
A: "There is only a hand full of people in South Africa that really know about fashion so in general I consult them. We also have great dialog with the designers when it comes to anything that has a direct influence on them. They are very much part of the decision making process".

Peroni; L'Oreal Paris; Swarovski; Iman Cosmetics and MAC Cosmetics are global brands that have been affiliated with SA Fashion Week over the years. I can’t wait to see what Lucilla Booyzen and her team produces for the next season in 2010. It’s a wrap, V.

Links - SA Fashion Week:
Website – http://www.safashionweek.co.za/ .

Blog – http://www.safashionweek.blogspot.com/ .

Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/safashionweek .

YouTube - http://www.ifor1.co.za/2009/09/18/ssafw-lunar/ .

Lunar - http://www.lunarlife.co.za/ .

Colleen Eitzen - http://www.colleeneitzen.co.za/ .

(site is under construction)

Xmas Wishes 2009

December 24:
Xmas is only hours away around the globe. As is tradition, we all think about what we would really like to receive or give for Xmas. The green Moncler Thym jacket in this month’s Vanity Fair makes my wish list to receive for myself. Designer, Beth Springer, selected a metallic Clam Shell (gold or platinum) as the Beth Springer 2009 holiday ‘it’ bag for her clients because the holidays are filled with sparkly nights and impromptu fun when I inquired about her wish list. On the other hand, Lucilla Booyzen, Founder & Director, SA Fashion Week, stated that “I do not have the need for any presents this year. The space that I am in at the moment and I hope for the rest of my life is a more spiritual space where all I want is wisdom to do what I do as it relates to SA Fashion Week and to have love all around me”. And what would a Xmas wish list be like without shoes? Fred Segal, who specializes in fashion clients, is currently highlighting the Valentino shoe which just hit my e-mail inbox. I love the use of the black lace in the shoe detail. Merry Xmas to my readers and embrace the gifts you have either given and/or received. Best V.
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Product & Photo Info:
Beth Springer - http://www.bethspringer.com/
Fred Segal - http://www.fredsegalfeet.com/
Moncler Thym - http://www.moncler.it/
SA Fashion Week - http://www.safashionweek.co.za/
Valentino - http://www.valentino.com/
Vanity Fair - http://www.vanityfair.com/

Alexander Koutny: Victoria's Secret Show 2009

Designer, Alexander Koutny, who just collaborated with the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2009, is an amazing designer that showed at SA Fashion Week in 2007. For more on the current collaboration of Koutny and the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, tune in to CBS, December 1st, 10/9c. Photo: picapp.com