SANLAM FASHION WEEK NIGHT 2

Black Coffee

Abigail Betz

Last night was the second and final night of Sanlam Fashion week Cape Town. We had a great time at the event and met some awesome people but again the collections were not up to scratch! I was very disappointed at most of the shows again. Amongst the average was Diamond Face, Stoned Cherry- I think she is great and I'm all for making Fashion in S.A, African- but i really don't like Lakanga fabric and she always uses them- they are boring now because every designer trying to show African culture in design uses them. There is simply no innovation in showcasing our culture anymore-, Lunar- pretty and fresh but nothing that any old designer couldn't do and Ruby- which hasn't changed its stock or underwear at YDE since the shop started way way back when.

I enjoyed Black Coffee, however its was not amazing in comparison to the breathtaking show they did last year - I was very impressed by all the structuring, the work that went into the sewing and the designs. They were sort of space age/Victorian structuring meets African. The styling was very Chanel with fingerless gloves and the matching shoe cuffs the models wore reminded me of the Manolo's Nicky Hilton wears in my previous post 'put a little Spring in your step'. Very unique!

Here is their Inspiration:"The key idea in this collection is innovative construction. We want to define a new modern African aesthetic and have used geometrical African fabrics found in Mozambique which have an optical effect on the eye. This is enhanced by the meticulous way in which this range is constructed. We have also incorporated craft elements by our Mpumalanga crafter group which we're working with as part of the SSAFW/Department of Arts and Culture Fashion Fusion project. The result is a contemporary alternative to traditional dress. The garments are multidimensional, body-defying and almost sculptural. Every piece is folded and tucked to simultaneously conceal and reveal the shape of the wearer."

Key Words:Innovation, Construction, African, Modern

I liked Abigail Betz who had some very pretty things. She used feathers and flowers which was beautiful too so here is the run down on her.

Brief Biography: Abigail's label has made great strides since its humble beginnings in Cape Town. With partner, Maria Dracatos and husband,Louis Meyer, she recently opened her first flagship store in The Mall of Rosebank, which stocks her ready-to-wear couture, bridal dresses and line of cosmetics called 'The Sweet Range'. The store opening also marked the launch of the Abigail Betz Bridal Lifestyle Portfolio, an A - Z bridal package that will offer brides a full service to create the perfect Abigail Betz signature wedding. Plans are also afoot to introduce a menswear range aimed at the sophisticated male consumer. Abigail has also been invited to show her Summer 08/09 collection at China's Guangzhou Fashion Week in December 2008 following a recent trip with fellow top SA designers to showcase in China's major cities as part of the government's Ten Years of Diplomacy with China celebrations.

Summer 2008/09
Inspiration:"My work with the Free State crafters as part of the SSAFW/Department of Arts and Culture Fashion Fusion Project has inspired me to experiment with different design elements - from the natural fabrics to the colours and textures I'll be using. This range is a new take on my signature feminine look and should be a pleasant surprise."