The Highlights From The 2023 Cape Town Fashion Week

March 27, 2023

Photo: Instagram.com/Malondie_official

The South African fashion scene was abuzz as the much-anticipated Cape Town Fashion Week (CTFW) 2023 came alive to dazzle and inspire attendees with creativity and style. Held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from the 23rd to the 25th of March, CTFW was presented by African Fashion International (AFI) and kept fashion, retail, art, music, and technology in the foreground of the event.

As the three days of fashion, design, and art unfolded, attendees were treated to some of the biggest highlights of the event, including a range of collections from eighteen African designers. The runway boasted designs from Mozambican design duo Taibo Bacar, Hugo Flear, Scalo, Otiz Seflo, Alia Bare, the eponymous fashion brand of the daughter of the ex-president of Niger, and Malondie, among others – all showcasing the creative force of African designs.

Photo: Instagram.com/Malondie_official

A model strikes a pose while walking the catwalk for Malondie during the 2023 Cape Town Fashion Week.

Additionally, IMPRINT SA, a South African fashion brand known for its Afro-futuristic luxury designs presented its AW23 collection: “The Homecoming” and provided marvelous and stunning pieces of prints deeply rooted in African culture. In fact, there were no missing prints and patterns on the runway, especially with names like Alia Bare and Shamyra Moodley whose designs are highly redefined Pan-African.

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The event also saw a range of art exhibitions called “The Ultimate Gold Collection” which was curated by former French Vogue editor, Carine Roitfeld and comprises gold-toned garments from prestigious brands such as Gucci, Giorgio Armani, Chanel, Prada, Dior, Burberry, and Tom Ford.

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Per AFI, the Ultimate Gold Collection was first exhibited in 2013. “The Ultimate Gold Collection was first showcased at the 20th edition of the amfAR Cinema Against Aids Gala in 2013,” the organizer of the CTFW said in a statement. “It was at this event that Dr Moloi-Motsepe acquired the Ultimate Gold Collection and brought it to Africa.”

These works highlighted the vibrant creative energy that continues to be showcased in Cape Town while inviting attendees to have a closer look at their wide range of talent. “The exhibition marks the beginning of what will be the AFI Museum of Art, where the entire collection and other items collected around the African continent and across the globe, will be displayed for the public to enjoy, engage with, and learn more about the world of art,” it added.

Photo: Instagram.com/Malondie_official

A model walks the catwalk for Malondie during the 2023 Cape Town Fashion Week.

On top of the art exhibitions, CTFW 2023 also featured masterclasses that gave the attendees an exclusive look into the building of a conscious and inclusive fashion movement in Africa. With all this and more, the 2023 Cape Town Fashion Week was a truly remarkable event. From the whimsical and vibrant designs of the runway to the artistic lineups of the art exhibitions and retail, the future of fashion and art in Cape Town is definitely being set with events of this caliber.