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South African Designers Give Their Wish List During MAGIC Marketplace
Sanlam SA Fashion Week Spring 2007
By: Veronica Viljoen-Sims
Photos by: Veronica Viljoen-Sims
More Photos:: Photo Diary: Design South Africa at MAGIC Marketplace
LOS ANGELES, Sep 3, 2006/ FW/ --- Fresh from winning ‘Excellence in Booth Design’ during the ‘Sourcing at MAGIC 2006’ in Las Vegas, the 10 designers who represented South Africa gave their wish list when asked the question, ‘Which A-List Celebrity they would like to dress?’
Given the notoriety an A-List celebrity will give a design house once they wear one of their creations, South Africa’s fashion designers gave mixed responses to the question.
Here are their selections with comments:
Ruby – “the velvet, bow tie panty is our most popular design and most of our orders have been this item. As it relates to dressing an A-List Celebrity we are not fussy as to who wears our designs as long as you support us, that’s good”.
Helon Melon – “my 100% brush, cotton fur gown because it’s 100% South African and my Celebrity of choice is Sheryl Crow because she is just so phenomenal”.
Colleen Eitzen – “from my Line, I have chosen the solid, black, open V-neck dress with side, front pockets from my Spring/Summer 2006/07 Collection”. During my interview time with Colleen Eitzen, I shared with her that I know that her slinky, cut-away tank tops that I viewed during Sanlam SA Fashion Week, Spring/Summer 2006/07 Collection will be a top seller if she decides to market them in Hollywood.
Bern Hill Collection – “Queen Latifah is my choice because she is still funky and she will wear my designs well. I’ve chosen the x-cross black dress with white piping”.
Malik –“The outfit that I’ve chosen is by designer, Malik who created this 100% button front tunic and fully flared cotton skirt that has an African flavor to it. No Celebrity preference but someone who can showcase his designs with flair”, Clotex. (Clotex a Trading House that concentrates in small volume orders using specialized contractors in Mens, Womens and Children’s designs).
Funeka – “I have chosen my corseted, structured kimono with India Aria as my Celebrity of choice given her ethos and values. I respect her since she can also identify with our South African struggle”.
Darkie – “We have no interest in Celebrities since we don’t market our product to them however; our tie skirt is our best seller and the most popular piece in our brand”.
Misfit – “I’ve selected a Misfit Vintage dress since it shows our classic style which can be worn with funky boots or sneakers. I’d like to see Uma Thurman in my dress, she rocks”.
Anthea Mooney – “I chose this slip dress because it can be done in any color wave, its loose fitting, sexy, feminine and cut on the bias. My Celebrity of choice is Paris Hilton”.
Forever Young – “I want to create a niche market where I can get Men’s Active Wear into more colors as it relates to active wear. My “old school boy style” has been requested by varies soccer teams to be custom made with their team flags”.
Larainne Kaplan, CEO, LKCollections introduced one of her South African Lines, Los Cojones, that she represents.
When Susan Searle, Owner, Los Cojones, was asked the same question as the designers at the South African Pavilion, Searle stated, “that we would like to see Singer, Robbie Williams, in our charcoal mélange “union jack mickey tee”.
My time with the South African fashion designers at MAGIC was refreshing, rewarding and exciting. Once I got to view their Lines and saw their marketing potential for the United States including the A-List Celebrity scene, I was reminded again about the tremendous creativity and fashion design talent in South Africa. Well done to the South Africans at MAGIC.
For more information about South African fashion designers delegation at MAGIC Marketplace, please visit:
www.southafrica-newyork.net
It’s a wrap
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