Monday, May 17, 2010

DFS 12th May Iskapie & IVNMC


The second DFS Show took place on Wednesday, 12 May at Cappello. The show featured two designers – Iskapie, an urban street African label and IVNMC, a new age label focusing on structure based on architectural principles.


The venue re-created a classic fashion show atmoshphere as the shows had more than just standard collections to showcase.The show was opened by the Mistress of Ceremonies, Ntombe Vabaza who gave this DFS Fashion Show a comfortable, yet energetic atmosphere. 



Iskapie’s collection was opened by hip hop group Illskillz who have recently been featured in Elle magazine. Illskillz is slowly becoming the next best thing in SA music and they proved this by their smooth lyrics and stellar performance, perfect for Iskapie’s eclectic street collection. Iskapie’s unisex collection had a stronger male presence with more male clothing being showed. The men all walked barefoot, which expressed a distinct, yet childlike township sentiment. The men wore shorts in shapes that were both skinny and wide at the hip for a more audacious look. Shirts and well tailored jackets doubling up as coats finished off the look. Iskapie was not shy of splurging on deep reds, blues and purples. For the woman, Iskapie showcased short dresses that were simple and well suited on every model’s body. Iskapie chose to be more reserved with colour using mostly grey tones. His clothes embodied a well thought of, untypical street wear collection.


IVNMC’s show was a spectacular display of fashion and art. The show started with the Designer spray painting his label`s name on the white sheet that covered the stage backdrop. When the music started, IVNMC used a scissor to cut out an opening for the models to walk through. The collection was based on layering, with structural garments making its way down the runway. Ivan’s concept of using 3 models and a reversal of the (de)layering idea, gave the audience an alluring feel for what was to come. IVNMC’s collection consisted of various types of garment; vests, tights, skinnies, jedi skirts and cavalier jackets in an array of fabrics and strong attention to detail. IVNMC showcased 15 looks through the de-layering process. The models were well suited to express IVNM’s artistic flair and his vision for his collection.

The 2nd DFS show proved to be another success with the venue filled to capacity. DFS is becoming a phenomenon in the Cape Town Fashion Scene with consistent bi-weekly shows. With this venture creating such a buzz, fashion lovers and industry professionals are beginning to pay attention. 




The next show is happening on the 26th May at Cappello, so make sure you book your seat early at designforstyle@gmail.com. For more information, please join the Facebook fan page. 

Design for Style is truly moving forward!

Picture credits on this blog entry go to Amy Wessels.



                    

Monday, May 3, 2010

First DFS Showcase

The first Design for Style (DFS) Fashion Show took place last Wednesday 28th April at Cappello in Cape Town. The designers that showcased their collections were Ayesha Kamalie’s Akliviti range and Angel Jewellery and Handbags by Genie Direct. The show attracted a diverse audience including print and online media, designers, photographers and members of the public. The venue was extremely comfortable and chic, with couches and chairs arranged to create a relaxed ambience. The show was opened by the charming MC Ntathu Myeza, welcoming the audience and explaining the program for the evening.


The first collection introduced was Angel Jewellery and Handbags. The genuine leather bags came in an array of colours that included black, yellow, green, beiges and brown. The handbags were well matched with the necklace collection, featuring various stones attached to silver chains. The stylish, sophisticated yet funky handbags could be seen in many shapes and sizes, catering to many uses. The neck pieces can be worn by women both young and old and varied from long to short. The models were dressed in their own clothes and carried the collection extremely well.

The Akliviti range told an urban story with wonderful structured garments in contrast with draped fabrics. The collection was well matched with the designer’s fine art abilities as her painting “Long Street by Night” was used as the backdrop of the runway. Every garment was well tailored showing an effortless tailoring ability. The colours in her collection were earthy and concrete with vintage palettes also making their way through. The collection was truly remarkable.


A special thank you to Cappello for the venue, the designers Akliviti and Angel Jewellery/Handbags and also to the hair and make up teams - Scar Hair and the Make Up Issue. The first DFS Fashion Show was a true success and has audiences waiting in anticipation for the next one. The next show will be on the 12th May but more details will be made available soon.


All images supplied by Jess Handley.