By Phumlani Saul
Get ready, Gqeberha! The Eastern Cape Fashion Week is back and bigger than ever! This year’s theme, “Evolution of Fashion over the 30 Years of Democracy” promises to be a wild ride, with designers showcasing their talents and telling a story through their garments.
The kick off is a Designers’ Workshop on 7 August 2024 at Boardwalk ICC for all Eastern Cape Fashionand Textile Designers. The workshop comprises several fashion industry and SMME experts who impart knowledge and relevant tools to scale and or improve small businesses. There are limited seats available on a first come first serve bases, interested designers can book their seat on www.ecfashionweek.co.za .
“Our guest designer this year will be legendary Mr. Sonwabile Ndamase, the icon who designed the famous Tata Mandela’s shirts” said Mrs. NamhlaFihla, one of the organisers of Eastern Cape Fashion Week. “We are really lucky to have him showcasing his line as it will be the first time to showcase his designs before he jets off to New York to showcase his line on a bigger runway in September” boasted Namhla.
Mr. Ndamase will subsequently be honoured with the “Eastern Cape Fashion Week Cape Aloe Legacy Award” during the prestigious Fashion Show on the 10th of August at Boardwalk Convention Centre, this is in recognition of his great work as a fashion designer and his contribution to the fashion industry in the 30 years of South Africa’s democracy.
Explaining why the name ‘ECFW – Cape Aloe Legacy Award’ Busi Nxele, one of the organisers, explained that the Cape Aloe is the Eastern Cape’s provincial flower. The Coat of Arms for the Eastern Cape Province starts with a green base and the motto, DEVELOPMENT THROUGH UNITY. It is the only aloe that blossoms and produces a bright orange flower while growing on arid land, which speaks to its tenacity. The Cape Aloe is the perfect symbol to represent the recipients of this award, those who have fought and strived for their talent left undisputable marks in the history books and weaved a tapestry of positive legacy in the Eastern Cape, South Africa and the world.
Mr Sonwabile Ndamase as the first recipient of the Eastern Cape Fashion Week Cape Aloe Legacy Award stands as a true example of the symbolism encompassed by the Cape Aloe. Through his massive contributions to the fashion industry locally and abroad, most prolifically dressing one of our founding fathers of Democracy Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, and introducing the world to the iconic Madiba shirt.
The designers set to showcase at this year’s show are tasked to tell a story through their garments which will form part of this year’s theme “Evolution of Fashion over the 30 Years of Democracy” – Expressions of FREEDOM – The F is for FASHION..The local designers will be judged by a panel of experts and will stand a chance to be awarded BEST
COLLECTION and/or BEST SHOWSTOPPER GARMENT.
The Cherry On Top is going to be a performance by Lira, a South African multi-platinum selling singer, songwriter, speaker, entrepreneur and author. Well respected and renowned for her positive music and spectacular live performances, Lira’s career spans over 20 years with 6 albums,
Entrance to Eastern Cape Fashion Week is R500 which includes dinner and Black Carpet experience. Tickets to the Fashion Show are available already from Webticket, Pick n Pay and Boxer stores.
The 3rd annual Eastern Cape Fashion Week is made possible by National Lotteries Commission, supported by the Sun Boardwalk, Business & Arts South Africa, Woolworths Beauty, The Tramways, Legends Barber and produced by Ebubeleni Festival Projects.
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