First launched in 2003, Cape Town Fashion Week was one of the first events to be held at the Cape Town International Convention Center (CTICC) and this is the first year under its new title, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Cape Town. The event is run by Africa Fashion International the premier fashion events and promotions company providing platforms to showcase African creative talent.

Building on its growing reputation as an international hub for design, Cape Town will host Cape Town Fashion Week this month, showcasing the very best of South African style, as a host of established and emerging designers reveal their S/S 2013 collections during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Cape Town.

The tenth Cape Town Fashion Week will be supported for the first time by Mercedes Benz and inspired by “icons”, drawing on international icons from fashion to cars to venues.

image courtesy – Mercedes Benz Cape Town Fashion Week 2012

Key highlights for 2012 include new collections by Leigh Schubert, designer of the London Olympic 2012 uniforms for the South African team, and Gavin Rajah, internationally acclaimed designer and founder of Cape Town Fashion Week.

For the first time ever the event will also feature an exclusive line-up from five of South Africa’s emerging designers. Selected by African Fashion International’s panel of media and fashion experts for their ability to tailor their designs for commercial success, the showcase will feature Celeste Lee Arendse of Selfi, an Elle New talent finalist in 2009, Robyn Victor of August Clothing, Tarien Malherbe of Non-European, Maloti Mothoni of Strato and Pumeza Mekuto of Black Coal Clothing, who was one of five designers invited by 3 Suisses (the second largest online fashion company in France) to showcase her collection to commemorate International Women’s Day, and who already has own ‘rail’ at The Space clothing store Rosebank, Gauteng.

AFI’s point of distinction is the fact that designers are selected through a strict curatorial process and invited to show, versus designers’ having to pay for participation.

image courtesy – Mercedes Benz Cape Town Fashion Week 2012

This year’s CTFW line-up of local designers include; Thula Sindi, Stefania Morland, Leigh Schubert, Abigail Betz ,Gavin Rajah and David Tlale, who will present their unique interpretations of the upcoming season’s hottest trends. Other designers invited to showcase their collections include: Daniella Margaux, Doreen Southwood, Habits, Undacova, Dax Martin, Lisp, Nucleus, Lalesso, Tart, Michelle Ludek, House of Monatic and Fabiani.

When: Wednesday, 25 July 2012 to Saturday, 28 July 2012

Where: Cape Town Central

Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre

Contact: +27 (0)11 269-6960

One of South Africa’s most prominent fashion events, Cape Town Fashion week acts as a precursor to the major trans-continental showcase which is Africa Fashion Week. Held annually, Johannesburg serves as the fabulous backdrop to this fantastically glamorous event, which runs during October.

Source: Susannah Glynn at Kallaway

http://www.cisionwire.com/kallaway/r/cape-town-fashion-week-2012—in-partnership-with-mercedes-benz—showcases-south-african-style-for-,c9284227