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South African Fashion Week 2025 will be remembered as the moment fashion boldly went where few have dared to go, into another dimension.
Gert Johan Coetzee (L) at the South African Fashion Week (SAFW) Spring/Summer 2025,Picture Nige Sibanda/The Citizen
Under the imaginative direction of Gert-Johan Coetzee, this year’s most anticipated runway show took us on an interstellar journey themed “The Arrival Meets the Unknown”.
The result?
A spellbinding collision of futuristic fantasy, heritage, and cutting-edge media.
From the moment the audience arrived, it was clear this was no ordinary show.
Guests were handed sleek headsets that transported them into a cinematic world, a video depicting the landing on a distant planet played as models emerged, strutting down a galaxy-themed runway.
The fusion of augmented experience and high fashion immersed us in a narrative of otherworldly creatures arriving on Earth and blending with humanity.
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Gert-Johan Coetzee’s collection captured the magic of that encounter, translating the celestial into couture. The garments told a layered story: of arrival, coexistence, and identity.
Signature silhouettes for Coetzee’s clients were reimagined in sleek black and turquoise straight-cut dresses that exuded both elegance and futuristic minimalism.
Graphic black and white prints dominated many looks, contrasted by exquisite beading and a bold display of headgear, both soft, pliable styles and structured, sculptural pieces.
Form-fitting black and white capes moved with aerodynamic grace, nodding to both regal heritage and intergalactic exploration.
“A world where heritage endures” became a visible sub-theme, as traditional African motifs were innovatively merged with cosmic flair.
Blues and yellows evoked both earthly terrain and planetary skies.
Zebra-print knitwear, some hooded, added a wild, native touch, paired cleverly with thigh-high stocking boots that suggested space-readiness.
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A highlight among many was the statement coat: yellow, maroon, and black with embroidered elephant motifs, one of Coetzee’s clear symbols this season. Elephants also stamped their presence on oversized bags and digitally inspired graphic prints.
Loose pants were adorned with the designer’s signature elephants, fusing animal strength with fashion boldness.
Black dresses detailed with metallic foiling and subtle textures shimmered under runway lights, and gold accents glinted like constellations on the move.
But the true showstopper?
A twin fashion moment that had the entire room in awe: two models, hand in hand, walking as one in conjoined bubble dresses, an evocative metaphor for unity between species, cultures, and realities.
It was imaginative, emotive, and deeply symbolic.
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With this collection, Gert-Johan Coetzee has stepped firmly into a new creative space, one where fashion is not just wearable, but experiential. His vision speaks not only to aesthetic evolution but to market expansion as he continues to push boundaries and perceptions.
Special praise must also go to the SA Fashion Week organisers, who placed media directly in the centre of the runway, an inspired move that ensured every angle, detail, and design was documented with precision.
I have no complaints this year.
The verdict? Gert-Johan Coetzee didn’t just deliver a show, he launched an experience.
Welcome to The Arrival.
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