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Lukhanyo Mdingi -
Lukhanyo Mdingi -
Rich Mnisi -
Rich Mnisi -
Jenevieve Lyons -
Jenevieve Lyons -
Nicholas Coutts -
Nicholas Coutts
PHOTOS Simon Deiner/SDR Photo, Steve Marais and Travys Owen WORDS Malibongwe Tyilo
In search of the future of local fashion, we met up with four talented and much-lauded local designers in their early 20s who are making fashion enthusiasts sit up and take notice.
Jenevieve Lyons
She showed at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in 2012 and was an Elle Rising Star Design Award finalist in 2013. Since then, Jenevieve has launched her own label, dressed celebrities and shown at fashion weeks.
What has been the highlights of your career so far?
Definitely dressing Beatenberg bassist Ross Dorkin and singer Lindiwe Suttle, and, of course, being given the opportunity to open the first and second SA Menswear Week.
What excites you about South African fashion right now?
The growth of young talent and the fast rate of growth within the local menswear industry.
What disappoints you about South African fashion right now?
It requires resilience for young independent designers to keep up with the fast-paced industry.
Who are some of your favourite local designers?
Indalo and Lukhanyo Mdingi.
Rich Mnisi
Selected for the African Fashion International (AFI) Fastrack programme to showcase his collections at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week last year, Rich went on to win the AFI Young Designer of the Year Award and then impressed crowds at SA Menswear with his label OATH.
What has been the highlights of your career so far?
Receiving the AFI Young Designer Award, showcasing in Paris and being featured in major publications have been amazing.
What excites you about South African fashion right now?
There’s an injection of fresh faces, resulting in fresh concepts and a clearer depiction of the youth.
What disappoints you about South African fashion now?
The lack of critical analysis from the media.
Favourite local designers?
Lukhanyo Mdingi, AKEDO, Tamara Dyson, Julia M’Poko, Selfie, Marianne Fassler, Adriaan Kuiters and Jenevieve Lyons.
Nicholas Coutts
Nicholas won the Elle Rising Star Design Award in 2013 and went on to show at Mercedes-Benz Africa Fashion Week. His beautiful hand-woven scarves are highly covetable.
What would you say has been the highlights of your career so far?
Being given the opportunity to showcase my work at Cape Town Fashion Week last year and winning the Elle Rising Star Award are both on my list of amazing moments.
What excites you about South African fashion right now?
The young guns! The next generation of designers emerging, and the opportunity and support the fashion industry has given us.
What disappoints you about South African fashion right now?
There are not enough retail outlets for us young designers.
Favourite local designers?
Adriaan Kuiters and Jody Paulsen.
Lukhanyo Mdingi
His stunning lookbooks have made it onto some of the most popular international fashion and culture websites. He has also shown two menswear collections at SA Menswear Week, was an Elle Rising Star finalist and a Design Indaba Emerging Creative.
What has been the highlights of your career so far?
Creating my own collections and working with the likes of Travys Owen, Gabrielle Kannemeyer, Amori Birch and all the other creatives I’ve collaborated with to create my lookbooks.
What excites you about South African fashion right now?
The young generation of fashion designers.
What disappoints you about South African fashion right now?
The lack of support systems for emerging designers and the shortage of textiles.
Favourite local designers?
Tamara Dyson, Jenevieve Lyons, Nicholas Coutts, Rich Mnisi and Thebe Magugu.
