The Mercedes- Benz fashion week events are wildly known the world over for all the gilts and glamour it entails. From New York to Paris to Milan to Tokyo….there is arguably no bigger fashion event like its kind on the globe.
How lucky then are we in the motherland to also have a share of this slice of fashion heaven visit our shores. So just before the holidays last year (sorry guys, I am a tad late with posting this event, but rather late than never :), The city of Johannesburg, had the great pleasure of hosting this year’s Mercedes – Benz Fashion Week Africa.
In attendance at the Mercedes – Benz Fasion week Africa
My colleague Swaane came as my date
The Designers
I attended the event on the second day, specifically to support my friend from New York who was showcasing her designs that day.
Kibonen, NY – shout out to my girl Kibonen from the Republic of Cameroon and of the label Kibonen NY for putting together a refreshingly brilliant collection. Aside from the fact that her pieces where delightful to look at on stage, I was more impressed with how far she has come in pushing her label forward. I remember her from a couple of years back in NYC when I exhibited and sold my handbags around town, and she was then a budding up and coming designer. Fast forward to today, and she is now displaying on the ultimate grand stage with all the big wigs of African fashion. You go gurl…..I am so proud of you.
Kibonen, NY – on exhibition back stage
The designer Kibonen showing off her work
Murade: – you have got to love a fresh faced collection, especially when it comes from a designer you’ve never heard of before. So was the case of the collection by Murade – who is an up and coming designer from Mozambique. I am no fashion guru, but can definitely tell good clothes when I see them. Loved her designs.
Also in attendance was Africa’s 3rd richest man – SA billionaire Patrick Motsepe (the one being whispered to)
My Brush With Fame: Ah!! For all the Africans out there. We all got plently of love for the Congolese superstar, Kaysha. (singer of the original coupe decale and my fav Kaysha on dit quoi). By chance, we happened to be attending the same showings that evening and as I never let a good opportunity pass me by, walked straight up to him and initiated a conversation. Interestingly enough, my cousin who is an expat in Haiti, had told me she had been to a Kaysha performance the previous week in Port au Prince, and being the good chatterbox that I am, brought that up with him. Our conversation from there on just flowed. I was always a fan of Kaysha, but definitely a bigger one now after our encounter. He is what you would call a “cool cat” 🙂
Hanging out with Kaysha – backstage
My cousin with Kaysha at his performance in Port-au-Prince, Haiti the previous week
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