Durban designers show collections in Ghana

TWO of the Durban Fashion Fair’s biggest success stories – Zama Mathe who heads up internationally acclaimed Durban-based luxury womenswear brand Zarth, and award winning young menswear designer, Martin John Steenkamp –  headed to Ghana this month for the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Both designers are products of the DFF’s mentorship programme and show how a vision that is shared by both the Durban Fashion Fair and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week can not only identify emerging talents but also create industry professionals who can put African fashion on the international fashion map, says the program manager for the Business Support, Tourism and Markets Unit of eThekwini Municipality and the convener for the 2019 Durban Fashion Fair, Sindi Shangase.

The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, a three day event held from 2 to 4 August in Accra, is a global trade and networking event that showcases the work of designers and creative entrepreneurs from across the continent. At the same time, it not only promotes the artistic side of the fashion industry, but also the all-important technical and business sides too.

ALSO READ: Fresh faces for DFF 2019

Since joining the DFF family in 2016, Steenkamp’s career has grown in leaps and bounds. Speaking ahead of the event, Steenkamp said: “I am very excited to be a part of such a career changing initiative that celebrates emerging talents such as myself. This will be my first international showcase and platform for showcasing my brand Martin John. It’s such a humbling experience to have this opportunity to showcase my designs in Accra and to bring Durban talent to the ramp in Ghana,” Steenkamp said.

He is putting the finishing touches to a bold, strong menswear collection that is gender fluid and versatile. The collection is inspired by street fashion and street culture merged with a soft delicate very flamboyant colour palate. His collection celebrates the best of African fashion.

Zarth’s Zama Mathe, who has showed her designs in Ghana before, said it was both an honour and a privilege to represent her city, the DFF and South Africa at large in Accra.

“My collection has a flirtatious take on today’s woman. A combination of textures and playful detail, I am having fun accentuating a woman on the go,” she said.

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