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The global fashion magazine June 11, 2011

feature

Design Indaba Soimpressive that youmay be tempted tobuy everything onoffer

In living colourDesign Indaba, the hands-on, break-out fashion and lifestyle expo, keeps the youth, energy

and optimism of the “new South Africa” relevant nearly two decades into the country’s new

era, reports Elyse GlickmanPHOTOGRAPHED BY SYDELLE WILLOW SMITH/THE IMAGINARIUM

SOUTH AFRICA ’S booming wine andspirits industry (Amarula Liqueur andDistell wines in particular) made itpossible for me to make a journey I hadwished for since the ’80s. My interest invisiting this enigmatic country waspiqued 25 years ago when a SouthAfrican Jewish family involved with theanti-apartheid struggle with kids my agemoved into my suburban Chicagoneighbourhood. Right around that timeI developed a crush on a movie-star-handsome guitar player (TrevorRabin) who, by the way, happened to befrom Johannesburg and whose familywas also active in the movement.

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Moving on to college five years on, Inot only engineered a surprisinglysubstantial interview with the futureHollywood A-list composer, butinterviewed other compelling SA artistssuch as Johnny Clegg and Savuka,Ladysmith Black Mambazo and anup-and-coming group called the DaveMatthews Band. I also hit the theatresto see plays Sarafina! and Born in theRSA, and feature film Cry Freedom.

Even with my exposure and inquiryinto South Africa’s “story”, however, Istill expected there to be surprises.Many of those came while on safari atKapama (see our ‘Volante’ feature) andeating and drinking my way throughexquisite meals at a variety of wineriesand restaurants. While fashion andhome accessory acquisition is anotherone of my obsessions while on theroad, I had very little time to shop.Therefore, I found myself surprised,delighted and seduced by various“what’s on” announcements trumpetingDesign Indaba 2011, a week of shows,film, seminars and an expo providingfigurative and literal one-stop shoppingfor fashion, accessories and homedesign. Once I arrived, fresh from a morningsafari, in Cape Town on the second-to-last-day of Design Indaba, Ibee-lined to the Convention Centrewhere the Expo portion of themultimedia meets multicultural eventsponsored by Grolsch was still in fullswing and the ambiance was quitecarnival-like. Better still, my US$8admission ticket literally put the best ofLong Street and some of Cape Town’strendiest fashion and home shoppingright at my feet.

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A free-spirited summer11.06.11With already a sell-out first season under their belt,Danish label Noa Noa is introducing antipodeans toa second dose of Danish fashion with its spring–summer 2011 collection. The first collection bynewly appoint..

Princess Catherine wearsJenny Packham; Bruce Forsythto be knighted; SarahFerguson thanks Oprah11.06.11Princess Catherine is on her way to becoming themost photographed woman in the world, as shewas spotted Thursday at a charity event wearing aSwarovski crystal-studded Jenny Packham dress,matched with a pair of £175 L. K. Bennett shoes. ..

Bulova Accutron creatives,with Sir Richard Branson,shown11.06.10At the recent BaselWorld 2011 watch and jewelleryshow, fine watchmakers Bulova Accutronannounced Sir Richard Branson as their brandambassador. Sir Richard’s appointment is part of acompany growth strategy for Bulova, whichfollows..

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What struck me about the beautifullyarranged spreads of furniture, homeaccessories, jewellery and clothingsectors (besides the fact that I wanted tobuy practically everything) was how wellevery global fashion trend from inter-national shows and runways had beendigested by many of the 60 exhibitors,reconstituted and put back out with auniquely 21st-century South Africanspin: unapologetic mixes of colour,pattern, form, shape, and (yes) function.The themes carried over deliciously tothe Earth Fair Market, showcasing aselection of organic and locallyproduced food ranging from Asiancurries, to homestyle-baked goods tolocal fare.

So, what exactly defines South Africanstyle? An interesting mix of westernEuropean minimalism, rustic tribalcrafts, mixed media and modern, genre-defining uses of metal and gems (in thejewellery), fabrics (particularly in thehome textiles), wood and ceramics. Theclothing, meanwhile, is all aboutwearability and function. Most of thedesigns are decidedly unfussy, butpunctuated either through dramatic hitsof tailoring or a single, strikingaccessory. It almost recalls the æstheticof 1980s fashion design, but whatmakes clothing styles timeless are thatthey are hewn with enough restraint thatyou can be as comfortable wearingmany of the items to the office as youwould to a club or a fashion function

Casual but smart: Icebreakerannounces Realfleece 260mid-layer range11.06.09Stay cosy and warm this winter without having topile on thick and heavy layers, with Icebreaker’snew Realfleece 260 mid-layer range. Theseluxurious merino items offer a natural alternative toother synthetic fleeces. Wearing ..

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like Design Indaba itself. Highlights included John Bauer’sceramics, locally produced and curateditems offered by Jabulani Jewellery,textiles at the Kamma Trust artistcollective, Anthi Voyatjes’s oversized-but-delicate silver “lotus” earrings andpendants, Yda Walt’s hand-printedtextiles, and sleek, ambitious ready-to-wear by Cape Town fashion labelChristopher Strong. While Design Indaba is just beginningto find fans outside of South Africa(including Martha Stewart, whoattended in 2010), you can exposeyourself to this fantastic, innovativefashion experience via its website—especially its shopping segment,which has truly special finds for women,men and children. •

Elyse Glickman is US west coast editor ofLucire.

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South Africa: game on!A year after the World Cup, the “new” South Africa is more alive and kicking than ever—anenduring testament to Nelson Mandela and other courageous souls who made it possible, observesElyse Glickmanphotographed by the author and Paul J. Coffin

Oxford callingDouglas Rimington attends the 2011 edition of Oxford Fashion Week, and is impressed by thevenues. It also managed to draw in some big namesphotographed by the author

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