The SA Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2020 shows took place in Sandton City from 23 October and Equilibrio was there to experience the glitz and glamour from the front row and this time, also behind the scenes. Here are our picks of the best shows by South African fashion designers at SA Fashion Week.
OUR DAY WITH ERRE
Equilibrio, behind the scenes with ERRE
ERRE is undoubtedly one of South Africa’s finest design houses. We look forward to their showcase every Fashion Week and Carina and Natasha never disappoint. We’re very proud that ERRE recently joined Equilibrio, with their current, summer collection available to purchase on our online store.
This season, rather than having a regular runway show, ERRE had an installation where when models are static and the audience walks around them. This way, the garments and their immaculate detail are seen up close. Equilibrio has the honour of taking part in this installation and experienced first-hand all the planning, work, and at times mayhem that happens behind-the-scenes of a major runway show.
ERRE
Experience the installation like the audience did with this video.
AFRIKANSWISS
Trends were hard to spot this season with each design house taking their own unique direction. If any trends were apparent, it was the colours orange and yellow and innovative use of denim. The Gert-Johan Coetzee show was entirely orange and black. Amanda Laird Cherry sustainably repurposed items on Gumtree with many denim elements. Afrikanswiss wowed us with handpainted and tie-dyed denim – one of our favourite shows of the week.
Afrikanswiss
BEST NEW TALENT
Every season SA Fashion Week runs a “Best New Talent Search”, this is very much part of their process of nurturing and growing the SA fashion industry. As you can image, the finalists in this competition get great exposure to the media and buyers through their runway shows. Founder of SA Fashion Week personally announced the winner of the competition, House of Lucent. The collection was judged by SA fashion veterans as classic with a retail appeal.
Winner of the New Talent Search, House of Lucent
Worthy of special mention in this competition is Lo’ice who created a collection with fabulous convergence between modern style with African inspiration. Jill and I are very excited about this young talent.
Equilibrio’s pick of the best new talent, Lo’ice.
MANTSHO
Palesa Mokubung’s Mantsho collection was, as always a highlight, although slightly more demure than her previous Spring/Summer show that was our favourite from last season. Palesa recently was also bestowed the honour of collaborating with H&M in a uniquely African-inspired collection.
JUDITH ATELIER
We loved the “story” of Judith Atelier’s collection. It was a lovely mix of bold prints and neutrals with shearling accents. Skirts were big and colours bright, an all-year rather than an Autumn/Winter specific show.
Judith Atelier
LUNAR
One of our top shows of the week was Lunar. A brand that has undergone quite the revival in the last 12 months. The colour pallet was true to their roots – cool and neutral. And garments had intricate folds and pleats. Simply magnificent.
Lunar
These were our favourite shows by the best South African designers at SA Fashion Week.
All runway images are curtesy of SA Fashion and Eunice Driver Photography.
Video by Competent Artists for SA Fashion Week. See more SA Fashion Week videos here.
