Tuesday, July 14, 2015

#FASHION_WEEK: #SAMW – Day 2 - Highlights


Day 2 of SAMW arrived with a cold bang. Cape Town weather was acting up but the fashionistas were out in full force to ensure their dose of menswear was filled to the brim once more. A few shows stood out for us, a little more than that of Day 1, so it was definitely a great day for fashion for gents. Here’s our take on the labels that made an impression on Day 2 of SA Menswear Week, at Cape Town Stadium.

Mo’ko Elosa by Julia M’Poko
A collection titled ‘Shibui Kanzo’; Mo’Ko Elosa presented a well-crafted and simplistic menswear collection. Keeping in-line with Japanese inspiration, it featured clean, understated and uninterrupted lines and geometric shapes. The silhouettes were skinny, tall and edgy. The colour palette was a muted white and black with a dose of eclectic army green linens. The collection was an easy kind of cool, with one or two pieces also bringing in an element of sports luxe.

Credits: Photographs by SDR Photo/Simon Deiner

Credits: Photographs by SDR Photo/Simon Deiner

Credits: Photographs by SDR Photo/Simon Deiner

Credits: Photographs by SDR Photo/Simon Deiner

Credits: Photographs by SDR Photo/Simon Deiner

Credits: Photographs by SDR Photo/Simon Deiner


Imprint by Mzukisi Mbane
Imprint’s second showing at SA Menswear Week was a presentation of ‘Roots’; a collection drawing its inspiration from the Mother as the singular source of birth and creation and heritage as the source of identity and pride. The collection hosts pieces easy for the beach or cosmopolitan resort life we all strive to live. Accessorized by a local eclectic brand, Sticky HodgePodge, the collection is light, playful and uses print to explore volume and silhouette for the new African man. The man bags, big and small, also didn’t hurt the collection. There was a pair of red sandal-style shoes that we are definitely going to get our hands on.

Photography by Lesley Mphanga of LeHydro Photography

Photography by Lesley Mphanga of LeHydro Photography

Photography by Lesley Mphanga of LeHydro Photography

Photography by Lesley Mphanga of LeHydro Photography

Photography by Lesley Mphanga of LeHydro Photography


OATH Studio by Rich Mnisi
OATH Studio by Rich Mnisi is always a favourite of ours. The designer definitely didn’t disappoint. With a beautiful sleek silhouette, the OATH man is all about colour and monochrome print-on-print with a possible dash of orange just to further ensure your attention. There is an introduction of volume, which we didn’t see much of in his AW15 collection in Feb but this time around, if the jacket isn’t oversized, the pants are: AND WE’RE LOVING IT! The hot orange sleeveless biker jacket also does a little twirl in our books. Great cuts and styling with beautiful standout looks and pieces; overall a great collection once more.

Photography by Lesley Mphanga of LeHydro Photography

Photography by Lesley Mphanga of LeHydro Photography

Photography by Lesley Mphanga of LeHydro Photography

Photography by Lesley Mphanga of LeHydro Photography

Photography by Lesley Mphanga of LeHydro Photography


Shirt & Co. by Korbla Dzotsi
The use of light natural fabrics in earthy colours always hints towards African forests and sunsets. Trips to the Serengeti and being modern-man about it. Korbla Dzotsi’s showcase for his label, Shirt & Co., presented just that, with what we deem to be a touch of India. Safari jackets with slightly tucked in waistlines to create shape and form, extra-length shirts with fabric belts knotted high waist and high-waist drop crotch pants modernized to support the growing sports luxe trend – these are all small identities of Indian attire. Essentially, some of the looks we could have done without, but the collection in its entirety was well-finished and introduced a fresh silhouette for the city man.

Photography by Lesley Mphanga of LeHydro Photography

Photography by Lesley Mphanga of LeHydro Photography

Photography by Lesley Mphanga of LeHydro Photography



Projecto Mental
All the way from Angola and fresh from the Florence catwalk for Pitti Umo’s first ever Constellation Africa showcase in conjunction with Ethical Fashion Initative, Projecto Mental was a rather fresh surprise for us; particularly due to the fact that their focus is on men’s suits. We’ve done enough of that, so we generally switch off the second a suit comes onto the runway because, unfortunately, very few menswear designers locally know what to do with a suit other than to make it in navy with a slim leg. Projecto Mental on the other hand had us in awe with the first look – a pinstripe jumpsuit. Well sized, cut and styled, this opening look set the precedent for what would follow: slim cut + tall silhouettes + easy formalwear + chic casual items + colour plays + mixed fabric and print choices. It was an utter kaleidoscope of texture and colour and we loved it. It represented a young man who understood the need for a finely cut suit without apologizing for his enjoyment of fun and interesting fabric and colour choices.

Photography by Lesley Mphanga of LeHydro Photography

Photography by Lesley Mphanga of LeHydro Photography

Photography by Lesley Mphanga of LeHydro Photography

Photography by Lesley Mphanga of LeHydro Photography

Photography by Lesley Mphanga of LeHydro Photography

Photography by Lesley Mphanga of LeHydro Photography

  

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#menswear #SAMW #ss16 #runway #blackmalemodels

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