I lost my notebook and spectacles at Fashion Week, but as much as I have no reference for this blog post, Darkie's show stood out for me. The label is one of my favourites and those tops with Ndebele prints and slogans like "Shaka, victor or victim" are a definite must have for me next summer.
Themba Mngomezulu, the label owner, told me that although they didn't look at a specific direction for the collection it naturally grew to what it is- a show with direction.The Ndebele print featured throughout the collection and the theme (my interpretation) of oppression and/or defeat remained on course. Is our art as Africans dead or alive (Ndebele print)? Was Martin Luther King victorious in his course or a victim of assasination as result of that very course?
My credit card is definitely ready for this collection to hit stores. Can't wait for the Maponya Mall opening, which Themba said remains in the pipeline albeit delayed.
Visit http://www.ifashion.co.za/ and view the gallery for pics
2 comments:
Have you ever seen any of his other shows? They were similar to that if not better. I was disappointed by this show because I've been much better work from him. It's like he's stuck in the same place. I don't know whether I'm spoiled but I really found it boring, repetitive and uneventful, much like I found Amanda Laird Cherry's show. She's a lovely person but I really think she's got to keep her clothes relevant, and evidently so does he. That collection for me would have worked in 2003 or 2004 when the zeitgeist was about redressing the wrongs of the past by looking to black leaders and icons for inspiration and affirmation. What does "Ghandi, victim or hero" mean in 2010? We are fighting a different battle. We need to be dealing with contemporary issues like the Malema's, Zuma's and Right-wingers of this world. What did he say was his inspiration for his show? What are people like me supposed to write about?
I take your point, I just like Darkie's practicality. And yes, I do agree, he would have done well to explore a present struggle. I liked the fact that at least he had direction.
Like I said in the blog, he said the collection "just grew" into what it is, he didn't aim for something in particular, but ended up with the "victim or hero" thing, because "it worked" for them.
Do I think the collection could have worked in 2003 or 4? I think it would have worked even better in 1994...
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