Fashion designer Sonwabile Ndamase of the Madiba-shirt-fame felt the show was an insult to African heritage
SANAA Africa 2012 started the four-day Africa Day celebrations on a highly fashionable note on Thursday with an African-inspired fashion show at Braamfontein's Shine Studio.
But the show left fashion designer Sonwabile Ndamase of the Madiba-shirt-fame unhappy.
Ndamase said the show was an insult to African heritage. He was very disappointed with the interpretation of the African theme by all the designers.
"There was absolutely nothing African about the whole fashion show. For God's sake, we are celebrating African heritage. Some people mixed African fabrics with European fabrics - a no-no in fashion. The whole thing looked ugly and lacked creativity," Ndamase said.
He also said South African designers in general were not good at interpreting African themes.
Organiser Alinah Seloane Missouri said she was disappointed by Ndamase's criticism because as a designer he should know that fashion is interpreted in different ways.
Missouri said the designers represented their brands and that was how they wanted to interpret the theme.
"They defined Africa the way they wanted. The reason they are making it in the market is because people love them."
Sanaa founder Nonhlanhla Matshazi said she was impressed by the standards of local designers and the show.
The event was inaugurated last May and provides a platform for art, music, dance, poetry, storytelling and fashion under one umbrella in a festival of art that is uniquely African.
Additional highlights during the four-day celebration included a fashion installation curated by designer Anna Mari Pretorius.
The installation featured work by SA designers such as Clive Rundle, Mantsho, De Mil, Cheri Herbst, Guillotine, Vesselina Pentcheva, Fundudzi, Tiaan Nagel, Thula Sindi and crafted fashion accessories by Piece. - johnz@sowetan.co.za