Young designers, including the veterans of fashion, will be showcasing their new innovative collection to potential buyers, fashion magazine editors, fashion bloggers and fashion lovers all over Africa at Shine headquarters in Braamfontein during the Sanna Africa Cultural Festival.

The event is scheduled for between May 24 and May 27.

Among the designers who will be showcasing their designs is Sylvester Falata.

This will be Falata's second biggest show after his debut at the SA Fashion Week in 2010, where he exhibited both men's and women's collections.

He is now focusing on his women's range.

Known for his revolutionary approach and romantic flair, the North West School of Design graduate says he will showcase designs with various textures.

"My collection will be colourful and will be inspired by various cultures of Africa.

"I will be paying respect to Africa. The collection is inspired by African landscapes, colours and my Xhosa roots," Falata says.

His style is also flirty, fun and feminine, which has attracted celebs like Precious Motsepe, Thembi Seete, Jamali, Unathi Nkayi, Dineo Ranaka and songstress Lira, to his designs.

"People are attracted to my fashions because of all the various elements woven into it.

"There's always a very sweet feminine, girly aspect, a touch of nostalgia," Falata says.

"My designs endeavour to portray Africa in a glamorous way.

"This is a very beautiful continent, but unfortunately it is misrepresented," he says.

Falata says every garment he designs is African- inspired.

Falata burst into prominence when he was among the top 10 finalists in the Vukani Young Designer competition.

Annah Getaneh of African Mosaique, who was impressed by his talent, approached him later and he was one of the designers commissioned to develop an in-house label in collaboration with other designers.

In 2008 he decided to start his own line of clothing and has not looked back since.

"I wanted to create something that represents my view of fashion.

"I believe that the biggest challenge for a designer is to believe in his ability to be able to create a label that is a total self-representation.

"My work is based on the study of details and defined materials, so as to best express the femininity in every woman."

Born in De Aar, Northern Cape, Falata later moved to North West and enrolled at the North West School of Design.

He initially had ambitions of becoming a lawyer, but the fashion bug bit and he became totally absorbed with fashion.

"I fell in love with design the moment I got there. I thought to myself - this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.

"Needless to say, my parents were not impressed."

But Falata says his mother is now happy that he had, in fact, chosen the right path for himself.

Comments

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Sat May 25 03:52:16 SAST 2013 ::

May 23, 2012

TKay

I like Lira's dress
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May 23, 2012

caroliner

It really brakes my heart to see this guy in this newspaper, in 2010 i paid him R1500.00 for him to make my wedding dress and when it was time for him to deliver he was nowhere to be found till today i don't have the dress or my money back, If you are just an ordinary person you wont get anything done from him but he is good at impressing celebs. I wil;l be happy if i can get my money back. Caroline
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May 23, 2012

queenzo

mara lira ke skobo jong!!!!!!!!!
yet another gay designer

@caroliner
shame sorry to hear your sad story and i hope you get your money back, you can contact sowetan to trace him, but i have to ask? a wedding dress ya R1500? are you sure you didnt mean 15000? what kind of dress was that going to be?
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May 25, 2012

truthhurt

caroliner
It really brakes my heart to see this guy in this newspaper, in 2010 i paid him R1500.00 for him to make my wedding dress and when it was time for him to deliver he was nowhere to be found till today i don't have the dress or my money back, If you are just an ordinary person you wont get anything done from him but he is good at impressing celebs. I wil;l be happy if i can get my money back. Caroline
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Oh sorry honey, is he Gay?
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