WeeklySA_AdminMEDLEY: Rubicon sets the tone with nature-laced garments inspired by the ancient kingdom of Mapungubwe…
By Priscilla Malinga
The three-day SA Fashion Week kicked off with glitter at the Melrose Arch in Johannesburg yesterday, along with a white carpet roll-out and an illustrious list of designers and celebrities in attendance.
One of the designers Rubicon came back for another stint to display her Autumn Winter collection inspired by a medley of nature-based wear inspired by the social structure of the historical Mapungubwe Kingdom in Limpopo.
“With little research on the exact fashion trends that were popular in 1200 AD, I allowed myself to dream and re-imagine fashion history,” says Rubicon founder Hangwani Nengovhela.
“We know that this was a bustling kingdom in which the people lived in abundance,showing their strength and power. Mapungubwe ruler moved the upper classes to the top of a hill while the working classes remained on level ground,” adds Nengovhela.
She has created expressions of that concept, showing the various levels of authority under which the people of Mapungubwe lived through layering fabrics and constructing their garments from materials that depict movement.
With over 22 years on the global fashion scene, Rubicon has come to be known for one major thing – fine attention to detail.
This is what separates the average garment from its exquisite counterpart.
The great kingdom of Mapungubwe has inspired legends the world over. In its heyday, emissaries travelled from near and far to trade and exchange for the kingdom’s precious jewels – especially gold and ivory.
“Wearing our garments in various settings – from work through to social events, this will be conspicuous,” says Nengovhela.
Other designers who showcased their lines included Sinchui, Candid, Rebirth,The Trendsetter from the North, Thobey Cooper, Undefined Outdoor Clothing, Victori, Waalid, Yung Blood Apparel, Sober, Afrikanswiss, Mina Mozambique Fashion Week Sun Goddess, Thabo Makhetha, Fikile Sokhulu, Artho Eksteen, Michael Ludwig Studio and Pret-a-Perfect, among others.
