- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Joburg Fashion Week puts bright colours on autumn/winter catwalk
- Date: 22nd January 2010
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) MACHERE POOE, SOUTH AFRICAN DESIGNER, SAYING: "The past few years, I haven't done African. I have been so afraid to do it because there have been so many designers that do it but they've done it in kind of like browns and the creams, kind of like the earthy colours and I did not know that the was space for me doing colour in South Africa. Actually, I had gotten lost. I get very easily influenced, so I got very lost in the browns and the creams. So, I decided not to do it completely and also because I wanted to show that I can do gowns and I was young, this is it now."
- Embargoed: 6th February 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
- Reuters ID: LVA50L5OB5E781VRWNNOIQCOAT4
- Story Text: The Audi Joburg Fashion week returned on Wednesday (January 20). Now, in its fourth edition, the event brings together fashion aficionados from across the continent and the world.
This year, young South African designers like Machere Pooe and David Tlale are featured alongside established houses like Karen Millen, Carducci Woman, Fabiani, Errol Arrendz and Craig Port.
Pooe's designs hark back to the 1950s, incorporating bold colours and patterns from the Bapedi community of South Africa. The collection saw a mix of pencil skirts, tuxedo style jackets and slim trousers in black stretch satin with minimal detail, offset by brightly coloured heels.
"The past few years, I haven't done African. I have been so afraid to do it because there have been so many designers that do it but they've done it in kind of like browns and the creams, kind of like the earthy colours and I did not know that the was space for me doing colour in South Africa. Actually, I had gotten lost. I get very easily influenced, so I got very lost in the browns and the creams. So, I decided not to do it completely and also because I wanted to show that I can do gowns and I was young, this is it now," said Pooe.
Audience members were impressed with the latest designs and the palette of colours.
"I loved the colours, purple and yellow was exaggerated a lot. The girls were beautiful. Nice colour and I saw a lot of retro which is what I really like. It was beautiful," said one audience member.
"She tries to combine the African kind of cuts and all of that with, you know, the more modern kinda, you know, the whole African jungle kinda work thing. So, I like the way she combined that - the colours, the bright colours, I liked that in particular," added another member of the audience.
British design house Karen Millen, headed by creative director Gemma Metheringham, appeared at the Audi Fashion Week for first time.
Its autumn/winter 2010 collection was staged in support of the Shaun Borstrock Foundation for the Creative industries, which caters to young designers from disadvantaged backgrounds in the country.
Audi Joburg Fashion Week runs for four days with its final show on Saturday (Jaunary 23). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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