Can’t we all get along? Looking at the global political landscape, the response would seem to be a sad “no.” However, that response seemed unacceptable for popular South African fashion designer Gavin Rajah whose return to the runway was a breath of fresh air. Rajah reminded us it was possible to all get along by transporting us to the late 18th and early 19th centuries, just before the first world war. He projected an era where women wore lavishly designed clothing, and while many had primarily traditional roles, they were beginning to join the labor force, entering into the fashion and textile industries.
Rajah’s clothes oozed femininity. The fabrics were sensual, soft, and tough. His silhouettes ranged from flattering hourglass to a few inverted triangles. Rajah communicated a viewpoint that evoked happier times with bright collage of colors and even his neutrals stayed optimistic. As the designer explains it, “It was a time that really brought on a sense of ‘joie de vivre’ meaning the joy of living. It was an age that saw the introduction of exoticism in fashion and the start of haute couture.”
Check out a few of our favorite looks.
Photo Credit: Simon Deiner
Founded in 2007, Ladybrille® Magazine is a California based pioneer digital publication demystifying the image of Africans in the west through contemporary African fashion and celebrating the brilliant woman in business and leadership, with an emphasis on the African woman in the diaspora. Our coverage includes stories on capital, access to markets, expertise, hiring and retention, sales, marketing, and promotions.
