The Mzansi Designers collective work with recent graduates to hone their collections and business skills – which is a noble cause. Their designers often go down the afro-chic route (which i’m not a huge fan of unless you can do something different with it like Stoned Cherrie or Sun Goddess) so not so interested in it. However quite like this just for the bold use of blocky primary colours. Not sure who the actual designer is though. 
Machere’s collection is a good example of what the Joburg party girls are wearing: glam, full-on, shiny and just a little bit trashy (kind of Julien Macdonald, thinking about it he should sell down here). The quality street wrapper look is also always a winner…
The Joburg crowd also adore David Tlale, his collection is pretty fierce, meaning his frocks look like they’ll eat your soul. You’ll have to have quite a personality to compete with this outfit but think the afro-goth thing is interesting. I kind of like how full-on Joburg fashion can be – perfectly encapsulates the city’s attitude.
David’s odd piece of menswear is OTT and utterly fabulous (if you’re snoop doggy dog).
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July 28, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Daniel Kraus
The dress from David Tlale is amazing! We would love to know about any lingerie designers in South Africa. We are always looking for new designers. Great blog, I will be back!
August 5, 2008 at 10:18 am
Sponky
Dear Writer
I refer to your article where you indicate your lack of knowledge as to whom the designers for the brand Mzansi Designers are. Ironically, you’ve mentioned that Mzansi Designers work is a collective effort with graduate designers and surely if you wanted to know who the names of the designers are, you would have picked-up the phone and called them to find out. isn’t it so ? In case you don’t know, the company is led by Lesego Malatsi & Maki Dikgole as chief designers, directors and owners of the company. This you should have picked up should you’ve done your research.
I’m very sad that you mention stoned cherrie & sun goddess in the same breath as Mzansi Designers. This is clear indication that you’re very clueless regarding afro-chic designs and that you don’t take pride in authentic South African regalia or are you one of those that don’t encourage designers to be innovative and foster in trying to put South Africa as a global competitor in the world of fashion.
I’ve followed media reports on fashion week and the highs & lows, what I’ve picked up was bias reporting and surely this could only be influenced by PR. I attended Mzansi Designers show and subsequently all the shows that followed after. What I find strange is that there hasn’t been reporting on the refreshing and vibrant collection Mzansi Designers showcased but instead we’ve been bombarded with what’s clearly European designs paraded in SA catwalk. This was clear, as both David Tlale and Sun Goddess presented a dress which was identical in design on both their separate collections. Are we really a nation of mediocrity as one article from iafrica.com reports.
I lament the fact that South Africa doesn’t have fashion journalist that would report objectively on SA fashion, designers authenticity and fashion events, that’s why we still are in the rut that we’re in and not having made a global impact because we encourage our so called designers to copy other peoples work.
I suggest that next time you want to write an article, PLEASE conduct a research. We value your input as it create a platform talking but you need to be competitive, not MEDIOCRE.
August 28, 2008 at 8:50 am
sakhile
david you rock i love you sakhile from Swaziland
October 28, 2008 at 4:55 pm
tebogo
hey Davy im at northwest school of design and its my first year. i was telling you that u really rock n keep up de good work.you rock my world.love tebogo