Showcasing the latest styles from Guess, the event was briefed to be smooth, slick and modern, epitomising the Guess label. The venue selected was the Hope School fields in the leafy suburb of Westcliff, overlooking the tree-lined vastness of Johannesburg.
Strike Productions is no stranger to the Hope School fields, as they manage the venue for various functions.
A clear marquee was erected, allowing the 500-strong VIP guests and celebrities to enjoy the amazing view. The ramp was covered in black high gloss in addition to a high gloss back wall with LED strips built into it. The entrance onto the ramp was created by a LED wall in a pyramid shape. Both the LED strips and the wall were video mapped to generate depth.
Lighting was simple yet effective with 36 cityscapes. This produced sweeping, clean looks for the start of each segment of the show, along with a choreographed piece of video.
The sound quality was also incredibly important, as apart from the fashion show, there were live performances on the ramp, including former Idols winner Elvis Blue, who entertained the audience with an unplugged acoustics set. The sound was designed for the marquee layout so that it could be spread evenly. A lot of thought went into this, as noise levels had to be restricted because the Hope school is in a residential area .The client wanted superior sound without having to blast the audience away.
The venue was split in half to accommodate Front of House as well as the DJ who was part of the entertainment after the fashion show. With a screened background and chandeliers surrounding the space, the ambiance was sophisticated, elegant and stylish.
Jason Fitz, technical director at Strike Productions, commented: "The real challenge will be coming up with an awesome event for the next time... this one was tops."
