Darkie puts the world in the shade

Darkie picture by Bizcommunity.com

In doing so, the label showed enough seriously snazzy deconstructed tailoring and attention to detail in their immaculately tailored jeans and denim wear, to blow most any other global leisurewear brands off the map.

Let's face it, every global brand was once only five years old, and it seems that the label could be laying the groundwork for the creation of an empire. It already has a German online store and a retail presence in Holland, and they are proving that while you can't necessarily build a global brand out of couture, the ability for someone to be able fill the niche for a big African street-wear label is long overdue. So, can they succeed where Stoned Cherrie and Sun Goddess didn't? If their designs are anything to go by – they can.

Trend guru Li Edelkoort made a prediction a few years ago, that “any pants will look right so long as they're not normal”, and if Edelkoort is correct, then Darkie's signature deconstructivist, two-toned, dropped crotch, buttoned, belted and toggled garments, could soon be emerging from their underground status into the mainstream.

Also causing a complete riot was Cheryl Arthur's first solo collection under the Hip Hop label, since splitting with long-time partner Kathy Page-Wood. The rose-inspired show generated enough sexy sparkle to have launched Apollo 18 and was a sensation.

But the big news is the imminent opening of about 10 new ready-to-wear Hip Hop stores. This brand could probably also take Milan, if they wanted to, particularly with their signature African funkwear, designed in collaboration with the Namibian Craft Centre label - Maid In Africa. Watch out too for forthcoming retail advertising launch campaign for HH from the Jupiter Drawing Room [Cape Town].