SA FASHION WEEK RENAULT NEW TALENT SEARCH FINALISTS ANNOUNCED 27 September 2013 The five fashionista finalists in the inaugural 2013 SA Fashion Week Renault New Talent Search competition have been announced. The selected design talents Anmari Honniball, Laz Yani for Cutterier, Hanrie Lues of the Mej Lues label, TAKE CARE, and new label Erre, make for a formidable line-up. These finalists will have the opportunity to showcase their designs with top models in their creations at the opening show on the catwalk at the SA Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2014 Collections. The winning designer will receive the full support of SAFW which includes one shared show at the Spring Summer 2014 Collections show, free space in the Buyers Lounge and the SAFW Pop Up Shop as well as a shared show at the Autumn Winter 2014 show. In addition, they will receive R15 000 in cash from, the use of a Renault Mégane Coupé and representation from The Fashion Agent for one year. On behalf of, I would like to congratulate our finalists and wish them every success in their quest to entrench their own labels in South Africa s highly competitive fashion arena, says Fabien Payzan, vice-president of marketing for. As a people-centric brand, a key element of Renault s vision is to support new and emerging talent and with design integral to both cars and couture, we are delighted to be bringing some of our trademark French flair to the table and partnering with SA Fashion Week in the search for new talent. The Renault-SA Fashion Week New Talent search targets young designers with existing labels explains convenor Dion Chang. This is not about being a famous designer - we want to know whether entrants understand the industry. 1
There s more to the competition than a good portfolio, concurs Payzan. Fashion is a business like any other and a key criterion for each of the entrants was to provide us with a strategy on how they intended to build their brand. All that can be revealed at this stage is that the challenge is specifically conceptualised to ensure the finalists compete, showing their individual handwriting, rather than designing for a prescribed theme - which all other design competitions do, says Payzan Headed up by Dion Chang, the competition s judging panel includes Sandra Rogers, executive manager Trend and Design at Edcon, Jacques van der Watt, designer for Black Coffee, The Fashion Agent s Annette Pringle, as well as s Lee-Anne Stanton, Nkhensani Nkosi of Stoned Cherrie, Rahim Rawjee from ROW-G and Lucilla Booyzen, director of SAFW. Sustainability through progress is the guiding principle through Renault global signature Drive the Change. This is how legends are born: ordinary people who step into a world of imagination, and stretch themselves into the art of the possible, the art of the exceptional, the art of innovation and progress. Change is driven by people, concludes Payzan. SA Fashion Week takes place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Rosebank, Gauteng between 3 rd and 6 th October 2013. ends For more information go to: http://www.safashionweek.co.za Issued by For further information, please contact: 2
Viviene Ward: Press Relations and Events Coordinator: Comms Department to Vice President Mkt Dpt Tel: (011) 607 7502 Email: viviene.ward@renault.com NOTES: SA FASHION WEEK RENAULT NEW TALENT SEARCH FINALISTS: PROFILES ANMARI HONNIBALL Growing up in the historical diamond town of Kimerbley, Anmari studied fine arts at university, specializing in painting. After completing her Diploma she went on to study fashion design at The Elizabeth Galloway Academy. In 2011 she relocated to Johannesburg where she worked under the mentorship of Marianne Fassler for two years. She participated in the Design Indaba 2011 as an emerging creative and in 2012 was selected as a finalist for the ELLE NEW RISING STAR awards. In April 2013 she showed her first collection at SAFW and was awarded winner of the Lufthansa First Best Collections. 3
MEJ LUES / HANRIE LUES Based in South Africa all her life, Hanrie Lues is passionate about heritage. After being selected as a finalist for the Vodacom Durban July Fashion Challenge in 2005, Hanrie designed bridal, cocktail and evening wear under her own label, Hanrie Lues in 2006. In 2012, she launched prêt-à-porter label Mej Lues at the Spring/Summer 2013 Collections at SAFW. LAZ YANI 4
Born in Mdantsane, a humbling township in the Eastern Cape. Home to where my creativity is rooted. From a young age design became an integral part of my life. Moved to Port Elizabeth where I studied fashion and fell in love with pattern engineering. This love propelled my move to Johannesburg with a bursary and a two year internship at an acclaimed fashion brand where I was awarded the chance to showcase in Vienna last year. Currently working at a respected stretch specializing CMT with the hopes to gain a thorough understanding of the diverse commercial production system. TAKE CARE Established in 2008, Take Care offers beautifully finished styles in jersey, knits and woven fabrics. Obsessed with form and proportion, the collection is inspired by architecture, photography, art and design. 2011 marked a maturation for the brand as the collection expanded to include luxurious pieces in cashmere, wool and silk, as well as handmade leather shoes and accessories crafted from carefully selected materials. 5
ERRE Defined by the words to journey new label Erre infuses everyday fashion with the feeling of exoticism experience by travel. The brand proposes a new kind power dressing, aiming to provide working woman with quality wardrobe staples and investment pieces. Working with leather, Erre aims to push the boundaries of traditional use, incorporating various technological and handcrafted techniques to enhance quality and style. For more information go to: http://www.safashionweek.co.za Issued by For further information, please contact: Viviene Ward: Press Relations and Events Coordinator: Comms Department to Vice President Mkt Dpt Tel: (011) 607 7502 Email: viviene.ward@renault.com 6