More than a Fashion Week

Sanlam SA Fashion Week continues to hold my attention. During their collections, they presented "more than a fashion week" in presenting a Summer Exhibition, September 16 - 19th at the Sandton Convention Centre in Sandton, Johannesburg.

.

Photos: Kat Grudko Photography

1 - Floor Exhibit

2 - Little Black Dress

3 - Food Court

4 - Elle New Talent Booth

Is it over? Sanlam & South Africa Fashion Week

A few days ago, I read an article by one of South Africa's most noted Fashion Critic's Jacquie Myburgh, that made me ask the question, "is it over for the partnership between Sanlam, South Africa's financial giant and South Africa Fashion Week?" Another source that I decided to go with was Justine Stafford, Editor, i for One, who ran a review, "What Now?" about the split between the mentioned entities. My question was short lived when I received a statement from Kaelo Worldwide Media stating that the partnership between Sanlam and South Africa Fashion Week has come to an end. According to the statement, after four years of partnering with Sanlam, the naming rights to South Africa Fashion Week and its various associate properties are available. Sanlam made a strategic decision in September 2009 not to renew it’s sponsorship of South Africa Fashion Week from 2010 onwards as it looks to consolidate it’s portfolio. South Africa Fashion Week has been aware of the strategic re-alignment of Sanlam's sponsorship portfolio for some time and has through their exclusive commercial rights partner, Kaelo Worldwide Media, been in the market talking to a number of potential naming rights and other partners. Kelvin Watt, Director, Kaelo Worldwide Media, states "we expect that a new naming rights partner will be announced by the end of November 2009".

.

In my opinion, I hope that the new brand alignment of South Africa Fashion Week will continue towards their trend of new media. With just a click of my mouse, I together with countless global fashion industry players will be able to follow the latest developments on South Africa's longest running, groundbreaking Fashion Week (South Africa Fashion Week) via Twitter; Facebook; YouTube or Blogger. Not sure, if the other Fashion Weeks in South Africa can say the same? So, yes it's true, Sanlam and South Africa Fashion Week will be going their seperate ways. V. Photo: Ivan Naude/SSAFW

Changes Made in 2009

U.S.A.: On January 20, the United States sworned in their 44th President Barack Obama, a man who promises change for the future.

.......

South Africa:

Sanlam SA Fashion Week on the other hand has made news with their new timeline. Their Summer 09/10 Collections will show April 2 - 4 in Newtown, Johannesburg with designers Clive, Stoned Cherrie, Lunar, Mantsho, Ephymol, House of Ole, Abigail Betz, Amanda Laird Cherry, Colleen Eitzen and Tiaan Nagel. Photo Credit: Red Baklava & SSAFW

SSAFW 2008/09 - New Direction!

Sanlam SA Fashion Week (SSAFW), now in it’s 12th year is about to do something that is unprecedented within the circles of high fashion: showcase fashion designers alongside traditional crafters. For years, we have all seen the intricacies of hand stitching; countless embroidery; beading and ornamentation on the catwalks of Oscar De La Renta; Prada; Vera Wang and Jean Paul Gaultier with no or little reference to the crafters responsible for the end result. On the other hand, SSFAW will show their Summer 2008/09 Collections, 27 – 30 August, debuting the Fashion Fusion Collection that celebrates local crafters and designers workmanship. According to Lucilla Booyzen, Founder/Director, SSAFW, “the fused collaboration will focus on South Africa's rich hand craft heritage alongside the dynamic edge of contemporary design”. Maybe the international stage will follow suit? - SSAFW Press Coverage: The Frock Report - Images: SSAFW - Cooper PR/Photographer, Jurie Potgieter & Gaultier - http://www.myspace.com/jp_gaultier

SSAFW Lands International Appeal!

(L) Cosmetic Artist, Marnee Simon Photo:Abbe Foreman
(R) SSAFW Artist, Annette Dannhauser Photo: Johnny Sims
Los Angeles, CA: May 30, 2008. By Veronica Viljoen SSAFW (Sanlam South Africa Fashion Week) now in its 12th year perked the interest of Philadelphia, Cosmetic Magician, Marnee Simon, when Simon noticed the SSAFW Five Roses visual by Artist, Annette Dannhauser, on FashionEdge7. Added interest to Dannhauser’s Five Roses visual came from Photographer, Red Baklava, San Antonio, Texas. Then, Actress, Natasha Nova, expressed interest in wearing the “Marilyn Wrap” by SSAFW Designer, Colleen Eitzen to an event while at Cannes International Film Festival in Nice, France. In the meantime, Lucilla Booyzen, Founder and Director, SSAFW, shared with me how well SSAFW Fall 2008 was received in Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai. SSAFW continues to be noticed abroad.
SSAFW-Photos: Ivan Naude (C) Photo:Red Baklava

Style File - March 2008

Gives Back To Africa!


Los Angeles, CA.
By Veronica Viljoen.
























Who: United Colors Of Benetton

What: Donated T-Shirts

Where: Two Sisters Orphanage, White River, South Africa

When: February 2008

"The t-shirts were a gift from The United Colors Of Benetton for the children associated with Dancing 4 Kids at the Two Sisters Orphanage run by Patrick Chamusso. In the photo, (above), taken by D4K Photographer, Red Baklava, we felt it fitting to capture their enthusiasm and share the image with the world as Benetton aided in giving the children something to show that they matter. The t-shirts are a symbol to the children that they are not forgotten", Chrissi Theodorakakos, Project Manager D4K.



















Jack Rabbit Trunk Show
Fall 2008

Viljoen: "What has been the highlight for Jack Rabbit Fall 2008?"

Volk: "We saw our Lulu quilted bag (above) styled for Actress, Lucy Liu in Cashmere Mafia that aired on ABC".

One day after the Fall 2008 Trunk Show, the Los Angeles Times featured The Concord bag (tan bag in photo) in the lead section of the fashion review segment. http://www.latimes.com/features/lifestyle/la-ig-bags9mar09,1,4605004.story

LA Direct Mag - Feb 2008 Launch Party, GOA-Hollywood

Editor-at-Large, Andre Leon Talley, Vogue (above) attended Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios, Orthodox Fall 2008, Sunday, March 9th. After the showing, I noticed that Talley opted to exit and not visit the designer back stage. In the lounge, a fellow critic described the Orthodox Collection as "underwhelmed", a far cry from leaving us overwhelmed.

On the other hand, Founder & Director, Sanlam SA Fashion Week (SA - South Africa), Lucilla Booyzen described the Fall 2008 Collections at her event as follows when I interviewed Booyzen the last day of their fashion week on the phone:


Booyzen, (L), "For me, the Collections were extremely exciting. I saw designs that highlighted individuality. The designers presented us with designs that were not ethnic in nature. Instead, the designers delivered workmanship that spoke of a new sense of direction that make our fashions sure to fuse on the international runways of high fashion".

South Africa's Fall 2008 Collections Designer, Colleen Eitzen

It's a Wrap, Veronica
Till my next post, Friday March 28th


Links in sequence of article:

• Benetton http://www.benetton.com/


• Dancing 4 Kids http://www.dancing4kids.ning.com/


• Two Sisters Orphanage http://www.twosisters.org.za/


• Red Baklava http://www.redbaklava.com/


• American Rag http://www.amrag.com/


• Jack Rabbit http://www.thejackrabbitcollection.com/


• LA Direct Magazine http://www.ladirectmag.com/


• Vogue http://www.vogue.com/


• Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week http://www.mbfashionweek.com/


• Sanlam SA Fashion Week http://www.sanlamsafashionweek.co.za/


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

Other Credits:
D4K: PR & Marketing - Teresa Harrow
teresaharrow@yahoo.co.uk

D4K: Fundraising & Business Development Director -Chrissi Theodorakakos theodorakakoschrissi@cocoa.ocn.ne.jp

Cashmere Mafia

http://abc.go.com/primetime/cashmeremafia/index?pn=index?homepage=true


Photo Credits In Article Sequence:

• Benetton Headline Image - David Sims/Benetton


• D4K /children in Benetton t-shrits - Red Baklava/Dancing 4 Kids © 2008


• American Rag - Veronica Viljoen


• Jack Rabbit Trunk Show - Johnny Sims


• LA Direct Magazine Launch Party - Veronica Viljoen


• Andre Leon Talley - Veronica Viljoen


• Lucilla Booyzen - Robert Hamblin


• Colleen Eitzen - SSAFW/Ivan Naude

Fall 2008: Los Angeles & Johannesburg

By Veronica Viljoen























(L) Amanda L Cherry/JHB
(R) Monarchy Collection/LA

Fall 2008 continues to be
interesting and captivating as
I review collections for my blog.

Some of the memorable odes for this season in my book is the return of the multi talented, design guru Ms Vivienne Westwood to London Fashion Week; the insane decision of Giorgio Armani to ban New York Times, Fashion Critic, Cathy Horyn from his showing; the "carousel" set design that Chanel used and then what this entry is about: how well South Africa's premiere fashion event, Sanlam SA Fashion Week (SSAFW) compares to my adopted home, Los Angeles Fashion Week, namely Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios.
(L) Alan Del Rosario/LA
(R) Colleen Eitzen/JHB












































(L) Fal Guni & Shane Peacock/LA
(R) Abigail Betz/JHB

With this segment, I will let the pictures speak for themselves as I have placed images from Los Angeles and Johannesburg side by side for your review. In keeping with my comparison in design talent, if I ever had the opportunity, I would select Amanda Laird Cherry, Black Coffee, Colleen Eitzen and Lunar as the 4 fashion designers from SSAFW to show during Market Week at the California Market Center in Los Angeles for Spring/Summer 2008. When I inquired from Lucilla Booyzen, Founder and Director, Sanlam SA Fashion Week, the same question, Booyzen added, "in my opinion, Ruby, Lunar, Terence Bray and Tiaan Nagel will make my selection list".

Enjoy the comparison within the six images that I selected.
It's a wrap! Till my next post, Veronica.

Photos:
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios
Sanlam SA Fashion Week


Links:
http://www.californiamarketcenter.com/ - California Market Center
http://www.mbfashionweek.com/ - Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
http://www.sanlamsafashionweek.co.za/ - Sanlam SA Fashion Week