Telling The Story Of South Africa Through Clothing

On the 18 day, the South African Pavilion held a formal closing ceremony in World Expo. It helped to bring together a wonderful fashion show for six top designers in South Africa.

Xu Jia

Today, South Africa is striving to become the new darling of the world's fashion industry. On the 18 day, the World Expo South Africa Pavilion held a formal closing ceremony in the museum. It was a wonderful fashion show that brought together six top designers in South Africa. After the ceremony, the South African Pavilion will also be open to visitors until October 31st.

Six colourful tonal, rough and generous ornaments, and wild and wild patterns, the designers of Shanghai who have different backgrounds and styles give us a unique style of African fashion. "South Africa's fashion and design are unique and can occupy a place in the world fashion industry. This is also an important reason why we can proudly present our works to China in World Expo. As one of the most famous designers in South Africa, Nadia Mir is full of confidence in the development of local fashion. When she accepted the exclusive interview with the first financial daily, she said, "because there are unique local fabrics and exquisite traditional handicrafts, designers can always absorb inspiration from the multicultural soil." When it comes to the rise of the South African fashion industry over the past decade or so, she even puts it in a word, "because our young designers know more about the country and look at the tradition rather than the West."

Localization of "turning waste into treasure"

Nadia sat happily in front of her, witty, letting reporters guess what material she wore on her hand, two large bracelets and a large collar around her neck. "Bracelet is made from a plastic material (11040, -275.00, -2.43%), using the Pearl weaving technology of some tribal women in South Africa. The inside of the collar is a common tube, the fish culture in the fish tank. It is wrapped around shells and beads. The back is made of plastic, very soft. Although the material is not very impressive, it looks bright and magnificent.

Cheap and practical local raw materials, coupled with time-consuming traditional handicrafts, is the Nadia's most advocated localization concept, which she calls "turning waste into treasure." "Through design and production, wood, animal bones and other raw materials, and those traditional techniques that young people despise, they can become more dazzling works than gold."

"All my inspiration is drawn from traditional crafts and the soil of South Africa's multiculturalism. Nothing is better than them." She sought artisans in various tribes, set up a handicraft workshop, and integrated the most avant-garde design with the most primitive technology.

Of course, straw woven products, leopard print, camouflage spots... Nadia's design not only mentioned the African elements mentioned above, "I also want to tell the story of South Africa through clothing". Nadia brought a series of clothing called "black and white" at the fashion show held at the South African Pavilion. As the name suggests, the color of the whole set is only two kinds of black and white. On a long evening dress, a black hand clasped tightly with a white hand. On the other hand, there are countless black and white crosses. "You all know the apartheid system before South Africa. I have a part of the India lineage. In South Africa, as long as I am not a white person, I will be regarded as a black man. I also suffered unequal treatment when I was a child. Now, I use my design to express these ideas. " On a fashionable lace, she even embroidered the words "peace, tolerance, understanding and Non Violence", "fashion also needs content", Nadia laughs.

South Africa only scraps the "African wind"

Although many traditional symbols are used, Nadia's design is not only "not earth" but also at the top of fashion. In South Africa, since the launch of the South Africa fashion week in 1997, a group of fashion designers like Nadia have made the buyers and media from the world look alike.

In fact, the rise of South Africa's fashion industry is also closely related to the African American style of Africa. As early as the 60s of last century, fashion designer Eve Szentgrolland launched the first hunting suit, which led to the great trend of European fashion. In recent years, African primitive tribal culture symbols have become the new favorite of European and American fashion masters. Dior's chiffon dress is covered with leopard striped tiger spots. LV is dressed from the spicy mini to the workmanship and folkcraft, which is displayed everywhere in leather bags and shoes.

The traditional is the world. The South African fashion industry, which is based on tradition, seems to have taken a good ride as a new force. Nadia did not negate this statement, but insisted that the rise of South African fashion industry was "because our young designers know how to look at the country and look at tradition instead of blindly looking at the west".

Nadia, who has often appeared in Paris and New York, has had many experience in cooperation with Europe and the United States. "The so-called African style in Europe and America is not necessarily better than the works of South African native designers." Nadia gave an example. She worked with a top jewellery card at a fashion show, which was responsible for making African style accessories worn by models. "I was responsible for the idea and handwork, but my work was hit by the big name. According to the confidentiality agreement, I am not qualified to tell others that I designed it. "

Nadia insists that native designers in South Africa understand more about raw materials and African handicrafts. "We will not interfere with the characteristics of African traditional crafts, but also understand the original cultural form and design works more flavorful." All in all, "our fashion is no less inferior to Europe and America."