Lukhanyo Mdingi

 

2012 Winner Jane Elizabeth Kotze

 Nicholas Coutts' winning collection

Until I get press photos and the professional DVD, I thought I would share a recording taken of my collection at the FEDISA Graduate Collection Show 2010. It's just magical to see clothes I made walking the runway on amazing models who can really work it! I was backstage quickly arranging my models and before I knew it, the music started and they were walking onto the runway. It was surreal, I had models behind me encouraging me to watch the monitor backstage, it was nerve-wracking and exciting to see it from there, I felt like a true designer. I look at this video now and I can't even remember all the nights sewing, the patterns being cut or the interfacing that I know went into it. The final song I used was Paradise Circus (Zeds Dead Remix) by Massive Attack.

What's one moment in your life that you'll never forget?

 Alexander McQueen Angel Shoes

You might remember me making this raglan sleeve blouse, it turned out quite well, I just have to fix the bias binding at the hem AKA hand sewing time in front of Hellcats! Is there a cut-off age for enjoying cheesy teen shows? Please inform me as I may have a problem here. I'm just bad all round at being amused by things though, today a cleaner at college was using a squeegee on the windows and I was transfixed; typical. On Monday I'll be getting feedback on my collection and I'll be told what alterations to make in order for it to be runway-ready. I really like my womenswear but my menswear could definitely use some work.

I got invited to the Elle New Talent cocktail party, opening show and showroom events. It's in Joburg and I was going to fly down but I need to sew, sew, sew and get this collection finished instead. Gotta throw some glitter on it, yeah! If you would like to see the show on the 17th of November at Grand West you can call FEDISA, there's still some tickets left. 
 

I got a package in the mail today from Ila Security and I'll be reviewing a great product for us girls' safety so check back soon!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

I recently had an assignment for drapery under the theme of "transformation" so I raided my leftover fabric trunk (quite mismatched) and applied the concept of rags to riches. Each time it is draped the bottom half continues to be built on so as to add some nice volume for the final look. It starts out bad then it gets ugly and finally a butterfly emerges from the plaid cocoon for some relief. Much like life, you gotta have the bad to fully appreciate the good and all that jazz!

I started out with a mish mash of pajama fabric, interfacing, some fabric my friend wasn't using and some bubble wrap thrown in for good measure. This is a vagabond, homeless bag lady.

Then she comes into money and has a real tacky moment of piling on flashy status symbols to let us know she's hit the big time. A real nouveau riche hideous piece of work.

Finally her tastes mature and she gives us a more subdued and elegant look with black chiffon and a daring neckline.

Here's another look at the final piece without the harsh camera flash cheapening up the chiffon.

I liked the idea of draping over the previous layers while adjusting the plaid top because it parallels the evolution of a woman's character. You see, underneath all that chiffon, she's still a bubble wrap lover just like the rest of us. 

Here’s a mood board for my current storyboard project. The theme is yin/yang so I decided to do a cheap VS expensive concept with a twist; An American/In Paris, inspired by French sophistication and trailer trash tacky perfection