SKATTIE TV BACKSTAGE AT THE DAX MARTIN UNDERWEAR SHOW

Who doesn't like watching hot men and women with hot bodies doing their thang down the runway? Not me! Skattie TV gives you a rare peek into the backstage preps at Dax Martin's undewear and lingerie show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Joburg.

Q&A WITH MENSWEAR DESIGNER STIAAN LOUW

Stiaan Louw is my second featured designer in this menswear designer series  (last month I featured Keith Henning of the label 'Adriaan Kuiters')which I hope will help to start a conversation about developing and supporting independent menswear in South Africa. I asked Stiaan several questions about the industry, fashion week and online retail. Here is what he had to say:

SN: What got you interested in menswear design?

SL: I launched my menswear brand in 2008 at Design Indaba. At the time there were almost no independent menswear brands in the market innovating exciting clothes for men. I felt it was important to develop a brand that did not only provide the obvious basics but also challenged the level of menswear design in SA and could compete with what is seen during international fashion weeks and in-store in those countries.

SN: Do you believe there's enough independent local menswear out there for the consumer?

SL: There is definitely still a huge gap between independent menswear and women's brands in this country. I also feel that many of the brands emerging are not providing anything you can't access via let's say Country Road or now Zara with the latter often having lower price points, better quality and access to a higher level of manufacturing.

SN: What would you say are some of the problems that menswear designers in South Africa are faced with?

SL: Manufacturing is a huge challenge, as well as access to fabric. Often as an independent designer you are aware of what is needed to improve the quality of your product but can't access it due to the 'minimums' required by some suppliers. 

SN: If there are any, what would you suggest be done to overcome this?

SL: I think it is important to seek out opportunities through which you can expand your knowledge and build relationships within the industry with larger manufacturers and suppliers. I have participated in mentorship programmes, for instance, which have given me the opportunity of improving the construction of the collars on my basic shirt range.

SN: Last year you showcased at AFI's Joburg Fashion Week, we did not however see Stiaan Louw at this year's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Joburg. What drove your decision not to showcase this time around. Can we look forward to your return to the runway this year?

SL: I had the opportunity of showing a capsule collection during London Fashion Week in September last year which shifted my perception of local fashion weeks. I think it is important to ask what your motivation is for doing a show locally. If it is purely for marketing, there are more cost effective and innovative ways of launching your work on online platforms. It also makes sense for me to show in Cape Town next, as it is my base and I haven't shown here during fashion week since 2008.

SN: Where does Stiaan Louw retail?

SL: We sell small commercial ranges via the studio in Cape Town and during periodic showrooms in Joburg. Most of our regular clients, which make up the core of our work, visit us for bespoke suits or after they've seen the more design driven collections we launch via online platforms. 


SN: Do you see online retail as an alternative marketplace for SA designers?
SL: I think online retail is viewed as the holy grail by designers who struggle to find stores to stock. I think the market is still quite conservative in regards to this and it would be challenging specifically in relation to menswear. I also feel brands need to be accessible via traditional means first before moving online.  


(PICS courtesy of Stiaan Louw)
This feature has also appeared on ifashion.co.za

THAT GUUURRRL SOLANGE!!!

SOLANGE KNOWLES AT SXSW 2012 (PIC: TMAGAZINE)

I don't mean to compare the siblings, but people always give me the 'you're such a liar look' whenever they pose the question 'Who do you prefer between Beyonce and Solange?'. My answer is always the latter. Why? Because I do. I love her simple, but eclectic style and the fact that she's a club DJ (something I've always wanted to be, too). She seems like that fun loving girl who, despite being a celebrity, seems pretty ordinary (and by this I don not mean 'plain'. She's anything but) and most of all... This guurrlll loves fashion! 

Anyways. I thought I should just share this picture of her at the South by South West Festival (SXSW) I found on TMagazine. Does she not look beautifully normal and downright super cool!

WHAT TO DO THIS SUNDAY IN JOZI? PALULULOVE POP-UP STORE!

KARL LAGERFELD'S SELF-PORTRAIT ON THE COVER OF I-D MAGAZINE'S ROYALTY ISSUE (SPRING 2012)

SKATTIE TV SPEAKS TO DAVID TLALE

Our third Skattie TV webisode is out and we speak to David Tlale about his critically acclaimed Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Joburg collection titled 'Glam Intersection'. We also get the views of some of the industry's most respected opinion leaders including Dion Chang. Enjoy!

SKATTIE TV DOES C-SQUARED AT MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION WEEK JOBURG

Now for a little menswear. C-Squared presented a collection called 'Russian Revolution'. Mali and I took to the sidelines of it all to ask fashion editors, stylists, bloggers and journalists what their thoughts on the collection are. Check it out!

LOIN CLOTH AND ASHES ON SKATTIE TV

As promised, here's the first instalment of Skattie TV, my collabo with blogger Malibongwe Tyilo of Skattie What are you Wearing.

Loin Cloth and Ashes by Anisa Mpungwe was, for me, one of the highlights of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Joburg AW12. As you will hear from the commentators in the video- Mpungwe is very clever with prints and what I enjoy most about her label is that it doesn't treat African print like some curio that can only be worn at weddings or traditional events. You can actually rock a jacket or skirt to work without feeling like some sort of ornament!

Your feedback would be highly appreciated. Enjoy!

AS A MAN, ARE YOU BRAVE ENOUGH?

C-Squared obviously believes in men who set their own style standard. I don't think I know of any straight guy who will confidently rock up anywhere dressed in any of these, but the C-Squared sequins jacket and vest, as showcased at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Joburg, got people talking.

The question is: 'Would you?'



SKATTIE TV TRAILER

If you read this blog or other local fashion blogs, sites and mags you perhaps know of Malibongwe Tyilo, who was last year named best local blogger by Marie Claire South Africa. He and I have collaborated on a series of vlogs- fashion shows, interviews with designers as well as commentary from fashion editors and industry opinion leaders. Here's a trailer of what to expect in the next couple of days as we post videos of our Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Joburg coverage on both this blog as well as Mali's 'Skattie What Are You Wearing'.

DO YOU LIKE MY MISSIBABA?

Well, I wish it was mine anyway. Was at the Missibaba AW 2012 launch party last night and this bag- among many others, of course- stole my heart. I need the bank to increase my credit card limit!