Tlale gets bite of Big Apple

One of David Tlale's designs shown at Arise Africa Fashion Week in Johannesburg.

Tlale won the African Designer of the Year title at the Arise Africa Fashion Week in Johannesburg in July, and part of his prize was a showing in the prestigious Mercedes Benz Fashion Week being held in New York City from 10 - 17 September 2009.

“When you fuse the African element in designs you don't necessarily have to use the obvious leopard skin. After much research on the global spring and summer trends, I have infused these different cultures as elements to make my designs different yet stick to the global trends of fashion,” he said.

In his show, which will be called “Cultural Intimacy” at the Spring/ Summer 2010 collection, Tlale will use natural and skin toned colours, which are symbolic of Africa, with traditional Swazi and Ndebele geometric patterns, ostrich eggshell jewellery, traditional beading and Kudu horn to show off African culture. He has added bronze, burnt orange and gold to his designs to make the collection “globally significant”.

With just days before he jets off to New York, Tlale told The Times: “This is one of the most prestigious platforms that any designer could dream of; it has placed many international designers in the spotlight. I can only pray and be confident in what I have created.”

With just about “10 minutes” on the ramp, Tlale says he is confident his 12 garments will be show-stoppers on the night of 11 September.

He will be showing his clothing in a category entitled Arise: African Promise Collective, which will feature Nigerian designers Tiffany Amber and Lisa Folawiyo, as well as Madagascar's Eric Raisina.

Acclaimed international fashion designer Gavin Rajah, who has done the Milan and Paris fashion weeks for years, said the New York fashion week would be challenging, but wished his colleague well.

“New York fashion week is a very difficult and traditionally unforgiving platform for African designers. Good luck to David,” he said.

Source: The Times

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