SA Fashion Week 2022

Posted on April 4, 2022 by Mishkah Roman-Cassiem

Ecological sustainability, women’s empowerment, inter brand collaboration and proudly local production investment are some of the dynamic developments that mark SA Fashion Week’s 25th Spring/Summer Collections.

The SAFW’22 Spring Summer Collections will be showcased from 28 – 30 April, Parkade G5, Entrance 24 at Mall of Africa in Johannesburg.

Twenty iconic names including Ephraim Molingoana for Ephymol, Amanda Laird Cherry and Palesa Mokubung of Mantsho as well as cult Kasi brand, Loxion Kulca, now designed by Olé Ledimo, will launch their 2022 collections to the media, buyers, selected VIPs and a limited edition of public tickets through Quicket, alongside exciting new stars including 2021 New Talent winner Artho Eksteen as well as Fikile Zamagcino Sokhulu and Sipho Mbuto who both participated in the Fashion Bridges collaboration with Milan Fashion Week last year.

Hosted by SA’s favourite social personality, Maps Maponyane, the 24^th New Talent Search will again open the event with a line-up of six of the most promising young designers to watch. This year’s contenders are:

·       Thando Ntuli – MUNKUS
·       Nichole Smith – Ipikoko
·       Mikhile du Plessis – MeKay Designs
·       Calvin Lunga Cebekhulu – Czene.24
·       Sanelisiwe Gcabashe – Gjenelo Couture
·       Mimangaliso Ndiko – Sixx6

Other highlights of the first day is the CRUZ COLLECTIVE featuring Sokhulu and Mbuto as well as another new generation notable, Michael Ludwig Studio.

Day two opens with The OPPO COLLECTIONS which brings Artho Eksteen, Ezokhetho, the gender-neutral signature, The BAM Collective, and the much revered, Amanda Laird Cherry, together in a celebration of technology and perfection that will speak to OPPO’s Reno 5 mobile phone as the quintessential tool with which to capture the ethos of contemporary living as “the new spectator sport” which happens where everyone, everywhere engages, interacts, captivates and comments.

“We are excited to go into our second year of partnership with SA Fashion Week. This is an important partnership for OPPO, as it gives us the space to connect with our customers and it shows our commitment to empowering local talent through our technology to curate a line of sustainably resourced fashion that represents both the heartbeat and heritage of our country. We are looking forward to our second collection and what our designers will come up with this year. For us, it is all about the creative collaboration that translates South African culture into design, which is the essence of what the OPPO brand represents both locally and globally.” says Avashnee Moodley, Head of Marketing at Oppo South Africa.

This is followed by the high-profile trio of Cape Town-based Helon Melon who wowed audiences in 2021 with her all-white, sustainable collection, fashion forward Judith Atelier, an ardent supporter of South African mohair and perennial fashion week darling, Palesa Mokubung of Mantsho.

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Launch of Africarare – Africa’s First Metaverse Collaboration

Posted on March 2, 2022 by Mishkah Roman-Cassiem

Africarare, Africa’s first metaverse is set to unlock African creativity and connect Africa to the global digital economy. At an event in Johannesburg on 28 February 2022, plans were announced for commercialisation of the 3D virtual reality experience, that is set in Ubuntuland, a virtual world that marries creativity, cryptocurrency and commerce.

Firstly, virtual land will soon be available to purchase and develop with MTN, Africa’s largest multinational mobile telecommunications company, joining Africarare with an upcoming 12×12 village (144 plots of real estate) secured in Ubuntuland. Additionally, M&C Saatchi Abel have entered the metaverse as the first South African advertising agency to do so. There will only ever be 204 642 plots of land available, made up of different village sizes in various community hubs. The land is positioned and priced according to a tiered value system.

Landholders will be able to customize their 3-D land spaces, such as hosting shops, producing resources, renting virtual services and developing games or other applications. Designated spaces will serve the community for work, play and wellness purposes, including state of the art meeting rooms, online therapy rooms (with optional anonymity), concert stages, film festival spaces, meditation lounges and other dynamic interactive environments. And, there’s more to come, such as staking, DAO (decentralized autonomous organization) and blockchain play-to-earn gaming.

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Cotton Fest is back this March

Posted on February 8, 2022 by Mishkah Roman-Cassiem

Organisers of the highly anticipated entertainment and lifestyle gathering, announced the return of the 3^rd annual Cotton Fest, which is set to take place in March 2022 in Newtown, Johannesburg. The theme for 2021 is “university and campus” and the organisers have created their very own university of COTTON FEST campus through which the festival will offer a multi-layered university campus experience including a concert, merch, cafeteria, sport area and even lockers for you to store your personal belongings.

With the return of the class of COTTON FEST 2019 and the sophomores from 2020, together with the freshers of 2022, it’s almost time for the graduation of the Class of 2022 at The University of COTTON FEST.

Known for merging both established and upcoming South African talent, COTTON FEST not only showcases the diversities in music while fusing the gaps within the different local current movements. With the best South African artists expected to perform over 3 stages, this action packed two-day festival returns to The Station in Newtown on the 19^th & 20^th March 2022.
Celebrating all South African talent, Cotton Fest not only showcases the diversities in music at large, but it also celebrates various lifestyle elements within our ‘culture,’ including fashion and sport.

THE CONCERT: The COTTON STAGE will feature headline and legacy artists. The Bettr STAGE will feature the New Wave of young talent. The Jägermeister STAGE will bring the best nights featuring House and Electronic talent, alongside some of the biggest names on the Amapiano scene right now.

SPORTS AREA: A half-court will be set up for basketball fans, along with a skating ramp for skating enthusiasts.

FASHION: Various merchandise hubs will stock unique pieces, limited branded fashion items and other sought after accessories.

CAFETERIA: Food Court will bring you a huge variety of delectable options and several fully stocked bars positioned around the venue.

MORE: There’ll also be photo booths set up for content creation as well as various chill areas to relax, recharge and reboot.

“Following the past 20 months that we have all lived through, we are humbled to be back yet again to make an impact in the entertainment industry. With the huge support and backing from artists from around the country, we are ready to kickstart the road back to normality in a positive way, and get the Creator Economy going again” says founder Riky Rick. “ With the industry currently flipped on its head, Cotton Fest, together with exciting partners hope to bring together the industry, and celebrate the graduation of the first class from the University of Cotton Fest 2022.”

In line with current government regulations, tickets will be limited to 2000 per day.

To ensure the safety of everyone attending the festival, ALL festival attendees – including all staff, partners and performing artists – will need one of the following to gain access into the venue:

Provide a personal fully vaccinated certificate (either printed or online)
Provide a negative PCR test, if only vaccinated with one dose, done within 48 hours of the festival (either printed or online)
Do an on-site Rapid Antigen Covid Test if you have not yet been vaccinated, which is available for R150 at the venue.

Tickets are on sale at Webtickets and Pick ‘n Pay outlets nationwide. Options include:

R200 Early Bird
R250 Day Pass
R500 Weekend Pass
R600 Merch and day pass package

This year, the University of Cotton Fest 2022 is proud to be in collaboration with Bettr.app – Africa’s first digital banking app for creators, by creators — and supported by lifestyle giant, PUMA, iconic Elixir brand Jägermeister and global digital payments leader, Visa.

Synonymous with youth culture in SA, the festival will be powered by none other than the iconic South African youth radio station, YFM.

For more information, please follow these social media handles:

Instagram: cottonfestjhb
Facebook: CottonFestJHB
Twitter: CottonFestJHB
www.cottonfest.co.za

5 Questions with 5FM’s Nick Hamman

Posted on February 7, 2022 by Mishkah Roman-Cassiem

5FM’s Afternoon drive show host Nick Hamman is off to Antarctica! The 5Drive presenter (Weekdays, 15:00 – 18:00) is thrilled to be heading off to the Southern-most tip of the world as part of the Matrics in Antarctica campaign with explorer Riaan Manser. The campaign was open to all Matric students, offering 5 lucky entrants the grand opportunity to head on an educational trip. The students had to write essays as an entry mechanism and the winners were selected earlier this month. Nick will be joining youngsters Anika le Roux (Paarl Girls High School), Keaton Stansfeld (Jeppe High School), Kgosatsana Mabalane (St Michael’s School for Girls), Mattheus Hendrikus (Kol) Wessels (Grey College) and Tsoaledi Mosa Hlakudi (Brainline) on the epic journey. He’s what Nick had to say about taking the trip of a lifetime.

So, on a scale of 1 to un-freakin-believable, how do you feel about your trip?

“Haha! It truly is un-freakin-believable! This is a once in a life-time opportunity that I get to share with young South Africans, where we travel to the edge of the earth at such a pivotal moment in their lives, leaving high school and entering into the world that lies beyond. It’s quite possibly the most exciting thing I’ve ever done.”

Tell us a little bit about how 5FM became involved in the project?

“Over the years I’ve always been passionate about the power of travel. Journeying to different parts of the world has been an exceptional way of sharing stories that can inspire and excite people. 5FM has given me that platform because as a station, they also believe in cutting edge content that can’t be found anywhere else. Riaan Manser is someone who shares this passion and we have come to know each other well over the years. When the idea to take young South Africans to Antarctica to share stories about this exceptional continent came about, it was a no-brainer that we would be the station to do it.”

What are you most looking forward to?

“Meeting the Matrics who were chosen to come on this trip. They were carefully picked by a rigorous months-long process of trying to find the students who most displayed qualities that meant they would be able to return to their families and communities and share stories that would make a positive impact. I get really excited by people like this and I can’t wait to be inspired by incredible young minds.”

When do you leave and what are you doing to prepare?

“I leave for Antarctica on 10 February and fly over the ocean in a 6-hour flight in a cargo plane. I am preparing to be freezing cold and to have my life changed by experiences that couldn’t be further removed from the sunny South Africa I am leaving behind.”

What can listeners expect from 5Drive while you’re on the trip?

“Expect to tune into the radio and find out first-hand what it is like to be in Antarctica. Just like I have brought shows live from across the country and continent I am going to be using theatre of the mind to transport anyone listening on a journey to the edge of the earth.”

Be sure to tune into 5FM’s 5Drive and keep an eye on the station’s social media platforms for content on Nick’s journey.

Visit 5FM online at http://www.5fm.co.za or on the following social media platforms:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ThePowerof5FM

Twitter: https://twitter.com/5FM

Instagram: https://instagram.com/5fm

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2NrMnw60a-Z-E77FfMKqkA

SnapChat: Thepowerof5fm

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@5fm

CATRICE announces Minki van der Westhuizen as New Brand Ambassador

Posted on January 28, 2022 by Mishkah Roman-Cassiem

A new face has joined the CATRICE family. Beloved South African model and television presenter Minki van der Westhuizen, who most recently premiered her very own Afrikaans talk show simply titled “MINKI” has been named the newest local brand ambassador for the German makeup brand. As part of her partnership with the brand, Minki will star in the MinkiXCATRICE campaign.

Willemien ‘Minki’ van der Westhuizen – the former presenter of “Pasella” on SABC 2 and the Afrikaans dating reality series “Boer Soek ‘n Vrou” – is admired not only for her drop-dead beauty, but also for her amazing character. The mother and wife who has won many hearts with her outstanding presenting skills is a role model for many people. This is an aspect that has made her acquire more than 192 000 followers on Instagram and 199 000 on Facebook. In an Influencer capacity, Minki was voted the most approachable, sincere and trustworthy by women in South Africa in a recent Garnier influencer survey.

Inspired by the trends in the fashion capitals of the world, CATRICE is an innovative and luxury-inspired makeup line with an affordable price tag and clean products you can feel good about. Professional makeup artists and influencers alike have been raving about the brand’s game-changing complexion products that rival the formulations of high-end brands, namely the HD Foundation, Liquid Camouflage Concealer as well as the Prime and Fine Primers and Sprays. Beyond that, CATRICE does not carry out or commission any testing on animals. Currently, more than 80% of the range is vegan, however, the brand is moving towards being 100% vegan.

Speaking on the partnership, CEO of Cosmetix Cindy Nell-Roberts says that Minki is the quintessential CATRICE woman – she is authentic, glamorous and has long used and loved CATRICE makeup.

“Minki – who is relatable as a mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend – values the high quality of CATRICE at affordable prices with no smoke and mirrors, giving all the savings back to our customers. What’s more, we are excited that she is passionate about helping her fans and followers learn how to do their makeup.” Cindy concludes, “Working with Minki is always a pleasure – her unique personality and enthusiasm for life embody the CATRICE brand values.”

Minki made her debut brand appearance for the MinkiXCATRICE campaign in December 2021. She will showcase the same talent that makes her one of the media and entertainment industry’s most wanted names alongside fellow brand ambassador Anele Zondo. CATRICE’s range of cult-favourite face, lip, eye and skincare products are available at selected Clicks, Dis-Chem, Superbalist, Takealot.com and House of Cosmetics.