Avant-Garde fashion history
Context Page
Introduction 2
History of avant-garde 2-3
Avant-garde in fashion history 3
Contemporary fashion and avant-garde 3
Discussion of Suzaan Heyns’ autumn/ winter collection 4
Discussion of Stiaan Louws’s 2011 autumn/winter collection 4-5
Discussion of Black Coffee’s 2013 winter collection 5-6
Discussion of Laduma Ngxokolo’s 2012 autumn/winter collection 6-7
Discussion of Thabo Makhetha’s 2012 collection 7
Conclusion 7-8
List of Illustrations 9-13
List of References 14-15
What is avant-garde and how does it fit into South African contemporary fashion design? In order for one to determine if you are for or against avant-garde, and specifically in relations to South African avant-garde, one must first define avant-garde and explore the origin and history of the movement.
According to The Oxford Dictionary of Art, avant-garde is defined as ”a term originally used to describe the foremost part of an army advancing into battle (also called vanguard) and now applied to a group, particularly of artist, that considers itself innovative and ahead of the majority” (Chilvers, 2004:42). Avant-garde therefore refers to designs that are new, innovative and cutting edge.
South African avant-garde is presently a very small part of the local fashion industry, but it is a developing fashion trend with great potential. South African avant-garde designers are constantly pushing the envelope in order to stretch the minds of the consumers and other designers. This carries great potential for the South African fashion industry as well as the economy, for if the designers succeed to be truly avant-garde, it is bound to have a positive outcome. I am therefore arguing for the existence and development of South African avant-garde and will be discussing Suzaan Heyns’ 2011 autumn/winter range, die vorm, Stiaan Louw’s 2011 autumn/winter range, Black Coffee’s 2013 winter range, WREATHE, Laduma Ngxokolo’ 2012 autumn/winter range, MaXhosa, as well as Thabo Makheta’s
Introduction 2
History of avant-garde 2-3
Avant-garde in fashion history 3
Contemporary fashion and avant-garde 3
Discussion of Suzaan Heyns’ autumn/ winter collection 4
Discussion of Stiaan Louws’s 2011 autumn/winter collection 4-5
Discussion of Black Coffee’s 2013 winter collection 5-6
Discussion of Laduma Ngxokolo’s 2012 autumn/winter collection 6-7
Discussion of Thabo Makhetha’s 2012 collection 7
Conclusion 7-8
List of Illustrations 9-13
List of References 14-15
What is avant-garde and how does it fit into South African contemporary fashion design? In order for one to determine if you are for or against avant-garde, and specifically in relations to South African avant-garde, one must first define avant-garde and explore the origin and history of the movement.
According to The Oxford Dictionary of Art, avant-garde is defined as ”a term originally used to describe the foremost part of an army advancing into battle (also called vanguard) and now applied to a group, particularly of artist, that considers itself innovative and ahead of the majority” (Chilvers, 2004:42). Avant-garde therefore refers to designs that are new, innovative and cutting edge.
South African avant-garde is presently a very small part of the local fashion industry, but it is a developing fashion trend with great potential. South African avant-garde designers are constantly pushing the envelope in order to stretch the minds of the consumers and other designers. This carries great potential for the South African fashion industry as well as the economy, for if the designers succeed to be truly avant-garde, it is bound to have a positive outcome. I am therefore arguing for the existence and development of South African avant-garde and will be discussing Suzaan Heyns’ 2011 autumn/winter range, die vorm, Stiaan Louw’s 2011 autumn/winter range, Black Coffee’s 2013 winter range, WREATHE, Laduma Ngxokolo’ 2012 autumn/winter range, MaXhosa, as well as Thabo Makheta’s