Catwalk clothes: For sale or show?
FASHION shows world over are a glitzy affair, graced with both flamboyant and hair-raising designs. But are some of the extraordinary outfits exhibited for sale or just for the show? Raphael Okello talked to some local fashion designers.
FASHION shows world over are a glitzy affair, graced with both flamboyant and hair-raising designs. But are some of the extraordinary outfits exhibited for sale or just for the show? Raphael Okello talked to some local fashion designers.
The Uganda international Fashion Week hosted local and international designers celebrating fashion with an African theme.
There were some outrageous designs and then some outrageous designs. Collections that left people wondering if anyone could wear them and stroll along any street in the world without bringing it to a stand still!
“Every designer needs to have an outfit that is a showstopper, one that acts as a signature creation for their design house. Usually it is the most creative and extravagant design in outfit and fabric,†explains Santa Anzo, proprietor of Arapapa Consultancy Ltd and organiser of the Ugandan fashion Week.
In her perspective, it is imperative for every designer to have an outfit that draws the audience to their label — an outfit that acts as a marketing tool.
“During fashion shows, we think of marketing the label, sales and public relations. How else can a designer succeed in achieving all that if they do not stand out,†she wonders.
The principal and director, Tiner International School of Beauty, Ruth Kibirige, consents, “The bottom line is, during fashion shows, clothes help to sell and market the design house.â€
However, fashion shows held by the different beauty and design schools are staged with a different concept from that of established designers. They are not held with the idea of sale.
“During school fashion shows, we examine students in different areas that have been taught. We may ask students to create an outfit from bottle tops, buttons, banana fibres or leaves. Our motive is not for them to create a captivating design for sale but, to try and find out how far a student’s imagination can stretch,†Rebecca Langa, fashion guru and director of Dolphin Fashions, Ntinda, explains.
Sylvia Owori, proprietor Zipa Models, concurs that some of the collections are showcased not for sale, but to portray the creativity of the designer and to also spice up the show.
“You cannot have a boring show. For the audience to enjoy a show, a designer should have a few clothes, not necessarily for sale, but to depict how a creative mind can work,†she says.
Although objectives for holding school fashion shows slightly differ from those of established fashion designers, Langa agrees that established designers also exercise their minds during fashion shows since design is all about imagination and how best one can fit a fabric on somebody.
“There is a difference between creativity and nudity. Some designers think a fashion stopper has to reveal so much flesh. It should enhance the model and not disgrace her,†Santa says.
Does that mean some ‘fashion stoppers’ can be worn?
“Yes, everything can be worn but only for the occasion they have been designed,†says Kibirige. “Normally, each design has got a purpose. It could be for theatre, wedding or safari.â€
To wear some of the ‘fashion stoppers’ and be able to go out in public, “one must be bold, confident and have an ego that lets them soar high,†says Santa.
A case in point: Arapapa’s signature creation, the fashion stopper, during last year’s fashion week, 100% Arapapa, was a sell-out. It is a novel design originally conceived from the Busuti. The elegant blue outfit has a tussled long sash that flourishes all the way to the ankles from the waist, very long and graceful fitting sleeves that flair out beyond the hands, a necklace and a long hat.
While the concept of showcasing out-of-this-world designs may remain an enigma to an ordinary soul, to a designer, it may decide their market share.
Ends
The Uganda international Fashion Week hosted local and international designers celebrating fashion with an African theme.
There were some outrageous designs and then some outrageous designs. Collections that left people wondering if anyone could wear them and stroll along any street in the world without bringing it to a stand still!
“Every designer needs to have an outfit that is a showstopper, one that acts as a signature creation for their design house. Usually it is the most creative and extravagant design in outfit and fabric,†explains Santa Anzo, proprietor of Arapapa Consultancy Ltd and organiser of the Ugandan fashion Week.
In her perspective, it is imperative for every designer to have an outfit that draws the audience to their label — an outfit that acts as a marketing tool.
“During fashion shows, we think of marketing the label, sales and public relations. How else can a designer succeed in achieving all that if they do not stand out,†she wonders.
The principal and director, Tiner International School of Beauty, Ruth Kibirige, consents, “The bottom line is, during fashion shows, clothes help to sell and market the design house.â€
However, fashion shows held by the different beauty and design schools are staged with a different concept from that of established designers. They are not held with the idea of sale.
“During school fashion shows, we examine students in different areas that have been taught. We may ask students to create an outfit from bottle tops, buttons, banana fibres or leaves. Our motive is not for them to create a captivating design for sale but, to try and find out how far a student’s imagination can stretch,†Rebecca Langa, fashion guru and director of Dolphin Fashions, Ntinda, explains.
Sylvia Owori, proprietor Zipa Models, concurs that some of the collections are showcased not for sale, but to portray the creativity of the designer and to also spice up the show.
“You cannot have a boring show. For the audience to enjoy a show, a designer should have a few clothes, not necessarily for sale, but to depict how a creative mind can work,†she says.
Although objectives for holding school fashion shows slightly differ from those of established fashion designers, Langa agrees that established designers also exercise their minds during fashion shows since design is all about imagination and how best one can fit a fabric on somebody.
“There is a difference between creativity and nudity. Some designers think a fashion stopper has to reveal so much flesh. It should enhance the model and not disgrace her,†Santa says.
Does that mean some ‘fashion stoppers’ can be worn?
“Yes, everything can be worn but only for the occasion they have been designed,†says Kibirige. “Normally, each design has got a purpose. It could be for theatre, wedding or safari.â€
To wear some of the ‘fashion stoppers’ and be able to go out in public, “one must be bold, confident and have an ego that lets them soar high,†says Santa.
A case in point: Arapapa’s signature creation, the fashion stopper, during last year’s fashion week, 100% Arapapa, was a sell-out. It is a novel design originally conceived from the Busuti. The elegant blue outfit has a tussled long sash that flourishes all the way to the ankles from the waist, very long and graceful fitting sleeves that flair out beyond the hands, a necklace and a long hat.
While the concept of showcasing out-of-this-world designs may remain an enigma to an ordinary soul, to a designer, it may decide their market share.
Ends