Brand South Africa has congratulated award-winning designer David Tlale, who this week became the first South African to showcase a collection at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York.
Brand South Africa reporter
“New York Fashion Week is a significant platform in the global world of fashion, on which designers profile their collections for the forthcoming season,” Brand South Africa CEO Miller Matola said in a statement on Thursday.
“Brand South Africa congratulates David Tlale on his successful showing at the 2013 New York Fashion Week, and we are proud of him for flying our national flag in New York.”
‘Knack for showmanship’
Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week describes Tlale’s work in glowing terms: “Renowned for his undeniable knack for showmanship and elaborate designs, Tlale’s work is both daring and dramatic – a brand that defies convention and a brand that impenitently employs unpredictable use and understanding of fabric, colour and texture.”
Describing his 28-piece women’s 2014 Winter Collection, Tlale told Brand South Africa before departing for New York: “The inspiration comes from the 1950s, and although it is not hardcore African, it has new-age Ndebele geometrics.
“It is epitomised by a line of lightning. Colours range from bubble gummy, mint and coral to grey and lemon, capturing a ‘midday sun ray’.
“There is a lot of craftsmanship, with beadwork,” Tlale said. “The silhouette is for the office, but also the red carpet with pencil skirts, beautiful shorts, and box-pleat, knee-length skirts, with layers. There’ll be black couture dresses, with beadwork. It will make women feel sexy.”
David Tlale brand
Tlale first launched his brand in 2003 when he won the Elle New Talent competition.
His numerous career highlights since then include being named the most stylish designer at the South African Style Awards, South Africa’s Star Designer of the Year, and Designer of the Year at the Africa Fashion Week Awards. The Arise African Fashion Awards also named him Fashion Designer of the Year in 2010.
The following year he closed the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Johannesburg when he presented his Made in the City Collection in celebration of the elder statesman’s 92nd birthday. In 2012, he presented a collection at New York Fashion Week for the first time.
Play Your Part Ambassador
Brand South Africa CEO Miller Matola praised Tlale for his contribution to making South Africa a better place. “In addition to being an inspirational South African, David is part of new a South African movement as a Play Your Part ambassador.
“The campaign encourages South Africans to actively participate in creating the country we would all like to live in, a country of which we can be proud,” Matola said.
“We invite other outstanding South Africans who do ordinary things, extraordinarily, to join this movement for social change.”
David Tlale “Plays his Part” for the South African economy by using only South African materials in his designs. All his creations are made in South Africa – creating jobs and opportunities in the process.
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