Are you counting down to the August weekend, when the largest annual African fashion event in Europe comes to town? Africa Fashion Week London is back for Season 9 and we’re getting into the mood by shining a spotlight on one of the 100 designers expected to showcase. Introducing South Africa’s Vanessa Gounden.
Vanessa Gounden is the Creative Director and inspiration behind her luxury womenswear brand. She combines original artworks and photography to create individual and contemporary prints.
The Durban-born designer’s career in fashion began in London in 2011, when she launched a range under the label “Vanessa G”, crediting with dressing international models. Since then, her wearable-art garments have showcased at several London and New York and South Africa Fashion Weeks. International celebrities such as Princess Charlene of Monaco, Nomzamo Mbatha, Pearl Thusi, Orange is the New Black actress Dascha Polanco and Naomie Harris have also worn her designs.
“Ours is not ordinary fashion, our garments are works of art.”
In 2015, she opened her flagship store in the heart of London’s Mayfair district where she still operates today. Vanessa’s signature style combines bold prints and patterns with innovative tailoring techniques, such as 3D layering. Her work is handcrafted in the finest luxurious fabrics and embellished with hand painted buttons, beading and embroidery.
Vanessa designs her work for intelligent, glamorous, spirited women where classic styles endure over trends. Each collection centres around a concept that is close to Vanessa’s heart, the narrative beautifully created on garments with such attention to detail, each piece retains its sense of bespoke individuality.
Vanessa’s Africa Rising collection is an “artistic dedication to the rise of African society from being previously oppressed during colonial occupation to its prosperous rise in the global market”.
Artistry and techniques already used in Vanessa Gounden creations have revived bygone textile skills and provided employment to local artisans not only in her South African based Atelier but in various parts of the world where unique talent is discovered and nurtured.
Vanessa Gounden:
“Ours is not ordinary fashion, our garments are works of art. Seeing our work in Paris and at other fashion weeks like New York and London has given many of us a confidence boost. I feel good about myself knowing I made a contribution.”
9-10 August 2019
Freemasons’ Hall
60 Great Queen Street
London WC2B 5AZ
Doors open from 1pm for Exhibition browsing and entertainment
Friday Catwalk Shows: 4pm and 6pm
Saturday Catwalk Shows: 2pm, 5pm and 7.30pm
