The Ups And Downs Of The South African Fashion Industry

If you are a lover and supporter of South African fashion, you will agree that it has grown tremendously in the last few years.  South African Fashion Week and Mercedes Benz Fashion are proof of such.

Although there is growth, it’s unfortunate that we’ve also seen stores owned by South African designers close down. SAM store in Umhlanga Centre, a proudly South African clothing store, closed last month and they have opted to take it online.

“I feel that most of the stores like that which close down, is actually due to lack of support not only from consumers but also from the government,” said Genna West, owner of SAM Store.

West says SMEs are unable to survive tough economic times due to a large amount of international chain stores that are watering down the consumer pool.

Lorinda Voges, renowned PR guru and director of 4Elementsmedia, says several macroeconomic factors are driving this push where we see local designers closing down.

“Personally I do think that many of the local fashion retailers closing stores are facing company-specific problems that in some ways forced them to downsize.” She said.

Voges suggests that collaborations between different designers in stocking their clothes in one retail space would be a good idea.

“Convoy in Melville is a typical example where 6 local designers decided to share their love for fashion in 1 retail space,” she added.

Voges added that PR for any lifestyle brand is very important, especially if you want to be known and seen.

“It is important for a brand to not only form relationships with fashion editors, but also with fashion bloggers as well as influencers that would wear their brand and speak about it on social media platforms,” she said.

West on the other hand thinks creatives can sometimes be their own worst enemy.  She feels that they do not market themselves enough nor do they market their outlets.

 “You can have 30 brands in one store and see no increase in turn over simply because those creatives are not driving their customers to their stockists,” she explained.

West thinks South Africans are willing to support local designers but there is some confusion on the cost of locally made and designer goods.

“Another issue is the misconception that because its a locally made then it must be significantly cheaper than everywhere else that is imported when meanwhile our labour is regulated here in order to protect human rights, which is something people need to support more, that we live in such a fantastic democratic society where our workers have rights.” West concluded.

When Beauty Meets Fashion

Gathered in Hyde Park corner, capturing beauty trends from Rimmel London and seeing the latest fashion trends, is what the South African Fashion Week was all about. It took place from the 5^th to the 9^th of April.

The partnership between Rimmel London and SA Fashion Week started in October 2014.

“We also participated in the SAFW Brooklyn Pop Up Shop event in Pretoria in August 2014 prior to SAFW AW15.” Said Rimell London’s brand manager, Fahima Saban.

Saban says she was impressed by the different looks on the models in this year’s Fashion Week.

 “This season of SS16 we saw clean looks with focus on highlighting and contouring with bright lips.” Saban added.

 She said that some looks added pops of colour to the eyes whilst keeping lips natural and nude, with subtle hints of coral and pink to the pouts.

Rimmel London SA is also running a campaign called #Lipstickrevolution, it is set on supporting ‘Rimmel London’s The Only 1 Lipstick, A No Compromise, All-In-One Lipstick’.

‘It is a revolutionary lipstick that will change the way you see lipstick!  It’s part of a global campaign to shout it out, Rimmel’s started a lip revolution! Join the movement with new The Only 1 Lipstick.’ Saban concluded.

Punk Your Haircut!

I may not be a hairstylist or an expert but I know that a person is defined by their sense of style or hairstyle. Nothing makes a woman look good more than a brand spanking new haircut that really works with her personality. Coco Chanel once said, “A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life.” Do I agree with that? Hell yeah! A classy haircut transforms the simplest female into a glamorous lady. In the past two years we’ve seen women like Chrisette Michelle, Nandi Mngoma and Lupita Ny’ongo changing haircuts and adding colour to their hair.  My little secret to a good haircut is adding colour to your hair.

There is nothing as beautiful as a woman who uses hair colour that complements her skin. If you know me personally you’ll know that I’m a vivacious person who can gladly say that my cherry red hair says it all.
Having virgin hair is not only refreshing, but it also allows a person to play around with colours. I can have blonde hair today and in a week or two decide to go blue black without having to worry that much. Depending on your skin tone, I always suggest that light skinned women use Inecto Better Blonde and the darker ladies use Inecto Cherry Red.

Wondering why you should choose Inecto Cherry Red? Well, I read an article on Cosmopolitan magazine where a psychologist said that the colour red stimulates decision making skills. I hope you ladies won’t have a problem choosing a haircut. What might be difficult is choosing which Inecto colour to use. Remember, if you don’t try something new you will never know whether it will work or not!
Thanks to Inecto’s specially formulated product I can now play around with different colours without worrying much.

NUBIAN CHAT: Bianca Koyabe

Having graced the pages of many glossies, Bianca Koyabe has been making waves in the South African modelling world and now that she’s become an ambassador for GNC South Africa, it won’t be long before this beauty goes international! Here she shares her secrets to success.

Nubian Beauty: Have you always wanted to be a model?

Bianca: My passion for modelling started about 4 years ago. I had always loved being in front of the camera but growing up I actually wanted to be a professional netball player.

Nubian Beauty: How did winning South Africa Swimsuit influence your life and career?

Bianca: Winning South African Swimsuit (Now known as World Swimsuit South Africa) gave me that extra bit of confidence. It gave me the feeling that I can actually be a really good model. I also learnt that persistence and dedication can go a long way.

Nubian Beauty: What advice would you give to models who want to enter the competition?

Bianca: My biggest advice is that you have to believe in yourself! There is no right or wrong; it’s a model search, so they are looking for new talent and new faces. Then you need to gather all your friends and family and help them support you and spread the word to vote for you. GNC is also the official sponsor of the World Swimsuit South Africa Model Search, so after winning the competition, I was in contact with them [which lead to becoming their South African ambassador]

Nubian Beauty: How do you keep you award-winning body in shape?

Bianca: I exercise five times a week. I balance it out, strength training three times a week and cardio training twice a week. I drink a lot of green tea and detox teas to make sure my system is always clean. I also do juice cleanses from time to time. I eat healthy and I have one cheat day a week where I indulge a little bit. I drink a lot of water and I make sure that I eat in moderation — that is key!

Elizabeth Arden To Honour Community Heroes Once Again!

One of the biggest beauty brands in the world, Elizabeth Arden is honoring community heroes once again.  The Elizabeth Arden “Make A visible Difference” campaign, aims to honour people who are making a difference in their communities.

“Elizabeth Arden is committed to supporting individuals and communities that seek to improve the lives of others. Through repeating this campaign year-on-year we are hoping to create an ongoing platform to share and acknowledge some of the amazing life-changing initiatives that ordinary South Africans are involved in today.” Helen McCallum, Marketing Director at Elizabeth Arden Africa said.

The programmed launched again on the 4^th of March 2015. The competition is open to all South Africans who are at least twenty-one years old. If you think you are making a difference in your community or know someone who is making a difference, you can share your story on makeavisibledifference.co.za.

You need to fill in an application form, including a 500 word essay between the 3^rd of March to the 18^th of April. Campaign judges, Helen McCallum, Zuraida Jardine, Adeola Ariyo and last year’s Community Hero Grand Prize Winner, Candice Sehoma will start reviewing entries on the 19^th of April.

Four community heroes will be chosen on the 19^th of June, in which they win a prize package valued at R65,000 each, including R40 000 cash contribution from Elizabeth Arden to each hero’s favourite charity organization. One grand prize winner will receive an addition R40 000 to further their education. The Community Grand Prize Winner will be announced at an Award Ceremony and Honorary Luncheon hosted by Elizabeth Arden in Johannesburg on 26 June 2015.

So what are you waiting for? Share your stories: makeavisibledifference.co.za

Follow @EArdenSA on Twitter and tell them #HowDoYouDoMore 

If you are not sure on which nail colour to use here are a few tips.

Black and red are a perfect combo! Since black is associated with feelings of empowerment and red stimulates decision-making skills. These two colours will make you feel like a boss lady that you are!

Clearly if you call yourself a lady you must track down a good manicurist and get your nails regularly looked after. It's worth it. If you are not sure which nail polish to use, just follow @essence_ZA on Twitter. Essence also has tips for beginners and they nail polishes are also available at Clicks. Thank me later :)

Q and A with Boss Model's Christopher Kotze.

When did you start modelling?

Ok so I started modeling in the beginning of 2015, for a few reasons. My biggest reason is my love for fashion as a pretoria boy there isn't a big amount of people that is really into fashion as I was, when I went to Mercedes benz fashion week 2012 I saw all the fashion driven people and I just loved the crowd and all the people. I loved the way they dress and personality and all of it and there I told myself I want to be between these people and more, My friend walked in the show and it looked so awesome for me wearing designers clothes and just there I said one day I want to do this, all the years till 2014 my attention got grabbed by all fashion type of things and modeling. A

lot of people told me to go do it and things but I just never made that plans to get photos to join an agency. In 2013 a photographer asked me if I would model for him and so I did my first shoot to possibly go onto gaschette online magazine. The photos came out really good(or so the people said haha). After I got the photos I didn't take it to fast to send it to an agency and a friend of mine showed it to a few agencies and they asked to bring me in and so it started a day before Mercedes benz fashion week casting I got signed and I went to the castings and got 4 shows and from there things just keep going.

Descibe your ideal girlfriend J

To me what a girl attracts me is all the things that makes her different, a different not usual at all look, the second her style is different she catch my attention and then with no sparkling personality added to that the other things doesn't even count.

Do you follow any health routine?

Not a very stip routine I will make sure I get my vitamins in during the week, I train atleast 4 times a week and I don't eat a lof of "junk food" as they call it, but I do make sure I drink a lot fo water.