South Africa : Menswear range to be launched at SSAFW in Aug

Nothing vindicates the Sanlam SA Fashion Week vision of a vibrant designer industry capable of substituting imports locally and wowing international markets internationally, more than designers nurtured over the past twelve years ripping through the silk ceiling to secure a commercial foothold whilst remaining true to their cutting-edge instincts.
Jacques van der Watt, now with partner Danica Lepen, whose Black Coffee collections have enthralled successive SSAFW audiences since 1997, is making impressive progress with their off-shore retail network.
The creative duo’s piéce de resistance, 20-options skirt/dress, secured them a presence in über cool Zagreb concept store, Viktor, along side iconic ranges such as Comme de Garcon, Issy Miyake and the Antwerp 6 and is a great addition to their existing Stricker & Strauss in London and Shwe Shwe in Melbourne, portfolio.
Having scooped the inaugural True Love SA Fashion Awards late last year, they are currently jostling for position with another SSAFW stalwart, Karen Ter Morshuizen of Lunar, and eight other finalists, for the 2008 Visi Designer of the Year award.
The Visi Awards celebrate exceptional home-grown designers ranging from architects to furniture and interior designers and are particularly coveted by the industry as contenders are nominated by peer panels.
Abigail Betz too, has received an unequivocal vote of confidence with investor Maria Dracatos recently buying a substantial stake in the Abigail Betz House of Couture. Plans are already in motion to open a signature store in Rosebank, Johannesburg, that will stock Abigail's ready-to-wear couture, bridal dresses and beauty products as well as provide a service for custom-made wedding dresses. A menswear range, aimed at the sophisticated male consumer, will be launched at the SSAFW Summer 08/09 Collections in August.
Since winning the 2007 SSAFW Elle New Talent competition, Tiaan Nagel has invested his winnings in an industrial sewing machine, employed a seamstress and opened a studio in Doornfontein.

His show at the Summer 07/08 Collections garnered rave reviews including the ultimate endorsement by a New York fashion journalist who bought 80 percent of the collection and continues to place long-distance orders. Tiaan currently supplies Fab Lab in Sandton and the Black Coffee store at Bamboo Centre whilst recent fashion features in Elle and Wanted magazines have boosted his private client base significantly.
Hangwani Nenghovhela’s Rubicon summer range also caught to the eye of a visiting fashion scribe, this time from London, with plans for a fashion feature in the pipeline. Business has been brisk following an insert on SABC 2’s magazine programme, Zwahashu, that profiled her shop on Jan Smuts Avenue in Craighall Park. Her range is now stocked at Laila in Millpark and her designs may also be spotted on Muvhango actresses Khabo Nina, Elle and Florence Masebe as well as Mthunzi.Com presenter, Thobi Mkhwanazi, who have enlisted as Rubicon brand ambassadors.

Ella Buter, too has signed up new outlets for her Superella range - Salvation in Pretoria and Black Coffee at the Bamboo Centre. This has secured her a steady cash flow and enabled her to focus on growing her private client base. Ella will be featured with Clive, Marion & Lindie, Bongiwe Walaza, Mantsho, Terrence Bray and Black Coffee in an upcoming issue of Hong Kong's Escape Magazine that will focus on exceptional South African designers.
Tshepo Modiba of Artistic Soul has cracked the nod from several SA corporates keen to get their promotional merchandise on trend, with an impressive client base that includes heavy-weights such as MTN, Standard Bank, SABC and Smirnoff. His participation in the 2007 Prestigious Awards for South African women achievers, has now also given him a foothold in this key market which he has long wished to enter.
Finally, flying the South African flag high on the international circuit, is Albertus Swanepoel, one of our favourite local boys made good. Following the success of an accessory range which included batik-printed fabric produced by the Sizakhele crafters group in Pretoria, for Barney’s, New York-based Swanepoel recently became the milliner du jour for luminary designers Carolina Herrera, Marc Jacobs and Calvin Klein's Winter/Fall 08 shows with his gorgeous, signature hats.