The African Fashion Spaces Exhibition took the fashion world by storm this past week, showcasing an innovative experiential take on traditional runway shows. Instead of a traditional ramp, the exhibition took place in a unique unexpected environment, creating a dynamic and exciting immersive experience for all attending guests.
Held on Thursday, 27th April at Beachwood Gardens in Hyde Park, the event featured some of South Africa’s dopest fashion creatives and models, aimed to showcase the diversity and richness of African fashion and heritage within the culture. The serene setting conceptually drew out the essence of each designer by showcasing each brand in their own respective curated runway stage settings as well as creatives to match the brands aesthetics.
The event was hosted by none other than social media maven, Shamiso Mosaka, who led the audience through a 2-part show that was nothing short of spectacular. The two brands for the evening were ‘Long Season’ and ‘OffMankind’, who were both impeccable in their presentation in creativity, garments display and conceptual exhibition.
Opening the show, LongSeason’s apparel delivered a breath-taking offering that took place at the venue’s tennis court boasting a modern slick black matt as a runway, lit up with orange bright beams, wonder and suspense. The atmosphere was electric, and guests were eager to see what LongSeason – a clothing brand dedicated to family, experimental construction and comfort had in store for them.
The second exhibition by the garden walkway was OffMankind, a brand that represents the rebellious, non-conformist spirit of South Africa’s inner-city kids. The collection was a mix of urban streetwear and traditional African elements, creating a unique and bold fashion statement. The OffMankind collection reflected the brand’s philosophy of embracing individuality and breaking away from the norm.
The African Fashion Spaces experience, also known as AFS was not just a fashion show, it was an exhibition documenting the movement of African creativity and talent. The event provided a platform for emerging designers to showcase their work and connect with industry leaders. It was a night of networking, inspiration and celebration.
Commenting on the event, Jay Kayembe, the creative director, said, “We wanted to create an experience that was more than just a fashion show, an exhibition platform that would empower the greater creator economy. We want to showcase African fashion in a unique and dynamic approach within South Africa & going into the broader countries within Africa all of 2023. By taking the show off the traditional runway and into unique and unexpected spaces, we were able to create a one-of-a-kind experience that truly highlighted the creativity and diversity of fashion creatives that is inclusive of all subculture genres, that have a talent & passion within fashion.”
“Overall, the African Fashion Spaces exhibition experience was a resounding success, garnering praise from attendees and media alike it is no wonder a global tech brand like DJI – who are world leaders in camera technology and drones have partnered with African Fashion Spaces (AFS) in sharing the vision on empowering the creator economy across genres with the brand ethos ‘Unlocking Creativity and Adventure” affirmed Ben Siyotula, Core Group Marketing Manager.
