SAFW A/W15 - RENAULT NEW TALENT SEARCH COMPETITION

New talent on the fashion scene always bring great excitement: a fresh viewpoint, a unique sense of style and an energetic collection. Renault (in association with Sunday Times Fashion Weekly) aims to encourage this new talent through their new talent search platform. This showcase took place on the opening night of SA Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2015.

The contestants were: Angelo Sebastian, Oh! Deer, Revelation Fashion, Wake and Jenevieve Lyons

Winning this competition certainly places the designer amongst a select group of individuals who are at the forefront of creativity and expression through fashion in South Africa. In addition, there are great prizes such as a cash prize from Renault and the use of a Renault car for the year as well as the all-important chance to show at SA Fashion Week for the next season.

Our thoughts on the collections:

Angelo Sebastian stuck to a white and black palette making use of interesting fabrication. Certain items looked as though they were made from crepe paper and plastering; this created a pleasing art-like effect. We applaud the creativity.

Angelo Sebastian
Photo: Simon Deiner / SDR Photo

Oh! Deer evoked autumn through the use of knits and an autumnal colour palette. The knitted rope detail added greater texture to most of the pieces in the collection.

Oh! Deer
Photo: Simon Deiner / SDR Photo

Revelation Fashion displayed modernised African craft elements. We enjoyed the geometric patterning and pleating detail as well as the pleasing neutral shades.

Revelation Fashion
Photo: Simon Deiner / SDR Photo

Wake used animal skin adornment to great effect; there was also fantastic use of opposing texturing all layered into a seamless whole.  This collection evoked the sense of a New Age tribe of women: elements of ethnicity and modernity all blended into one. 

Wake
Photo: Simon Deiner / SDR Photo

Jenevieve Lyons took us on a stylish futuristic trip with her use of multi-dimensional design elements and funky asymmetry in hues of blue, white and grey. A very strong collection reflecting a well-honed creative viewpoint.

Jenevieve Lyons
Photo: Simon Deiner / SDR Photo

And the winner? Wake's bold and daring collection best reflected the brief the judges were given as it evoked a new viewpoint while being wearable and stylish. Congratulations to Pieter Burger and Carla Roos from Wake!