SAFW S/S 15 - Gert-Johan Coetzee

Without a doubt the most talked about show at the recent SA Fashion Week was the off-site, 'by invitation-only' Gert-Johan Coetzee show held at 54 On Bath.  The event included a celeb-filled catwalk, a revolving stage and a 60-piece choir accompanying Louise Carver.  We were blown away by the spectacle of it all and the new Spring/Summer GJC range lived up to all expectations.

One of the things that really contributes to the impact of a Gert-Johan Coetzee collection is the thought that goes into creating each range, not only from a design point of view but also from a conceptual and inspirational angle.  This collection was dedicated to the mothers and daughters of Africa, with particular emphasis on their vulnerability, beauty and strength.  The catalyst for this inspiration was the 15 year old Nobel Peace prize winner Malala Yousafzay who survived a Taliban bullet to the head in reaction to her outspoken struggle for the right of young Pakistani girls to receive education.

Gert-Johan Coetzee muse, Thando Hopa, opened and closed
the show in showstopping full length gowns

Gert-Johan Coetzee brought this closer to home by looking at African woman and the struggles they endure - among them his muse Thando Hopa who juggles international modelling assignments with a challenging legal career while being an outspoken activist for albinism awareness.

This is a continuation of the socially aware themes of past collections - each highlighting issues such as HIV awareness, violence against women and breast cancer awareness,  adding to Gert-Johan Coetzee's position as a designer who proves 'Fashion Can Care'.

The use of contrasting motifs of spiky thorns and butterflies
aptly portrayed the vulnerability and strength of
African mothers and daughters

Red was the signature colour for the range and garments veered
from curvy to flowy, with shapes to compliment every
body shape

The ready-to-wear range was specifically designed to be wearable from
the tail-end of summer into winter 2015

In an industry rife with designers who have great creative ideas but very little experience when it comes to production and retail, it was of particular interest to us that the entire Spring/Summer 2015 collection showcased at 54 On Bath was available for purchase online via Spree.co.za the minute the show ended.  This proves Gert-Johan Coetzee's commitment to making fashion accessible to the public and in so doing breaking through the myth that fashion can only be seen on the runway.

For a peak of what went down during the Gert-Johan Coetzee Spring/Summer 2015 show at 54 On Bath: