I find it so inspirational whenever I find myself amongst other creatives & it’s 10-times worse when it’s specifically in the Fashion arena…

May 2021 saw a visually stimulating & carefully curated Fashion exhibition, right in the heart of the city of Ethekwini (Durban) & I couldn’t be happier to be the one to tell you more about it!  🤗

This exhibition showcased work made by local Fashion designers, some of whom I know personally, through an initiative that was ran by Nguni Shades and was done in association with The Playhouse Company 🎭

I take it as a privilege to have been able to witness and engage with fellow Fashion designers, solely because the infamous Lockdown took such opportunities right out of our hands 🙃

So, the exhibition hosted the work of a total of 13 Fashion designers, and their brief was to draw inspiration from one of the African Queens and create an outfit that embodies and tells the story of their chosen Queens 👸🏾

My three absolute favourite looks were inspired by Queen Mantombi (made by Sabelo Hlela), Queen Lo Zikeyi (made by Shaun Majola) and Queen Masinama Sigcau (made by Nosipho Diko Mnyaiza) 💯

Now, even though I had favourites, everyone did a great job and the entire exhibition read as a very strong body of work. This was also fully fledged evidence that indeed #DurbanHasMORE  🙌🏾

These are the rest of the Queens that graced the exhibition:

Queen Manthatisi – made by Oliver Nsele;

Queen Krotoa – made by Silungile Dlamini;

Queen Nzingha – made by Talent Mkhwanazi;

Queen Yemaya – made by Ayanda Mgobbhozi;

Queen Mindly – made by Nokubheka Ka Diko;

Queen Oshun – made by Judy Allahyar;

Queen Dlodlo – made by Ntokozo Ndimande;

Queen Inari – made by Treasure Cindi;

Queen Nandi – made by Fikile Sokhulu; and

Queen Amina – made by Sipho Mbutho.

I love to see Durban creatives unite and create together – as opposed to in isolation 👌🏾💯🔥

I can’t wait to tell you about more stories like these and next will be on a project I am involved with, known as ARTLAB – until then, don’t stop creating  and supporting your local creative 🙏🏾

P.S.  Thanks for having a read & you’re MORE than welcome to share your thoughts on our comment section below – looking forward to hearing from you…

Yours – but mine first,
Aphsie ♡