ARISE Fashion Week 2018 Day 2: Gavin Rajah

The runway shows of the highly anticipated ARISE Fashion Week kicked off on 31st March 2018 at Lagos Continental Hotel (formerly Intercontinental Hotel) with stunning collections from various designers across Africa.

South African designer Gavin Rajah showcased his latest collection on Day 2 of ARISE tagged Futuristic Nostalgia With Gavin Rajah’s 80’s-Inspired “Back To The Future” Couture Collection.

Gavin Rajah steers haute couture in a bold new direction with an 80’s-inspired collection that brings back the era’s finest design influences – and most spirited activism. The collection is set to debut at African Fashion International Fashion Week, on 21 March 2018.

Underground street culture, graffiti as art, and the power of fashion utilising art as a tool for activism – all of which peaked in the 80’s – are themes which are woven into the new season pieces. Gavin interestingly notes the dual nature of this season’s collection: fashion is constnaly re-inventing itself, yet at the same time paying homage to this exciting era.

The result is a fun, wearable collection, totally sweeping the syle stakes when it comes to sports luxe. A combination of luxurious silk devore chiffons with vivid crepes mixed with PVC and vinyls, the collection can be deconstructed and worn as separates, or as a total look. Style lovers will note that each piece features the atelier’s signature use of interesting embellishments and high-end finishes.

“The collection is a distinct statement in looking forward – optimistically – to a new world, and a new era,” says Gavin, who reflects on the issues South Africa is facing as a nation, and how through liberation movements, both past and present, we have been able to grasp the globe’s attention.

See the collection below: