Africa Fashion Week started with a dash of drama on Wednesday, 30 June 2010, when fashionistas discovered that celebrated label Stoned Cherrie had pulled out.
The 10-year-old brand, owned by Nkhensani Nkosi, decided to quit because her showing was scheduled for tonight - the night of the World Cup clash between Ghana and Uruguay.
Nkosi said: "[We] want to avoid competing with the African giants' epic clash against Uruguay this Friday evening."
She said her show, scheduled for 7pm, will make way for the African team's fans, who will be watching the game at Johannesburg's Soccer City.
"[The] Ghanaian football team's superb World Cup qualification has posed a somewhat bitter-sweet victory for Stoned Cherrie," Nkosi said.
"Expectedly, Africans the world over stand united in support of the team's quest for World Cup glory. Based on these and related factors, we have taken a business decision to withdraw from Africa Fashion Week's schedule."
Nkosi was expected to mark her 10th anniversary on the ramps and to launch her Stoned Cherrie's Love Movement.
The show's organisers, African Fashion International, said they have agreed with Stoned Cherrie's decision to withdraw from the event. There are no plans to fill Stoned Cherrie's slot.
Source: The Times