SOUTH AFRICA: THE OPENING OF FASHION WEEK IN JOHANNESBURG SEES A FLORAL FASHION SHOW WITH THE DRESSES INCORPORATING REAL FLOWERS

Record ID: 859886

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: THE OPENING OF FASHION WEEK IN JOHANNESBURG SEES A FLORAL FASHION SHOW WITH THE DRESSES INCORPORATING REAL FLOWERS
  • Date: 29th July 2004
  • Summary: VARIOUS: WIDE OF BEGINNING OF FLORAL FASHION SHOW WITH MODEL ON CATWALK FOLLOWED BY OTHER MODELS IN FLORAL GARMENTS (5 SHOTS) WS: OF STANDING OVATION FOR THE FRANZ GRABE FLOWER COUTURE (2 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 13th August 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
  • City:
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Arts,Environment,Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA2N9CPOSMETH2Y56BWI0WNGMOV
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: South African fashion show features novelty in fashion world: clothes made from real flowers.
    Two of South Africa's top floral designers - Franz Grabe and Coenie Hattingh - exploded onto the local fashion scene when they unveiled a world-first couture line, which incorporates real flowers at the opening of this year's South Africa Fashion Week.
    For the past six years, the pair has adorned shop-fitters' mannequins with flowers and greenery receiving rave reviews for their unique and inimitable artistic flair.
    Grabe describes his work as unpredictable, extremely creative, passionate, trend setting and confronting.
    " It's also linked with art and expanding people's minds, making fantasy come real. I think any woman would love to wear fresh flowers on her body and adorn herself with flowers." says Grabe.
    "No-one has ever done this before; we have been experimenting and innovating with mutton cloth which is so cheap, strong and versatile. We cut and knot it, we fray it and we weave sticks, grass and fresh flowers into it. We have a lot of fun with it, and we believe others will be just as excited about it as we are".
    Franz Grabe Flower Couture is well known throughout South Africa for its amazing floral installations, also dubbed 'disposable art'.
    The move into the fashion arena began when Grabe was invited by another top couturier, Marianne Fassler, to 'dress up' dummies.
    Demand for this new artistic talking point is increasing and visitors to the fashion show are impressed by this novelty.
    "I think it was a fabulous show, yeah, I definitely do, I think it was a great show, well done."
    "A very contemporary take on, I think, South African fashion context at the moment, dynamic, cutting edge sort of stuff, edgy but sexy and very applaudible."
    " I think that one dressed with the flowers, the top with the roses and the bottom will be wonderful to get married in, thanks very much."
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