By Melissa Bernier
The Haitian Times had an all-access pass to South African designer David Tlale’s FW15 show at Lincoln Center during New York Fashion Week! The show was spectacular and everything that you would expect of a New York Fashion Week show.
His take on fall and winter clothing ditches the layers, and focuses on sexy clothing that is intended to make a statement in a big way. . The dominant color of David Tlale’s FW15 line is black – but done up in a way that that is ultra luxe. Rich fabrics such as silk crepe, silk textured brocade, and textured cement wool are adorned with ostrich feathers, copper lurex and black leather detailing.
Tlale plays up décolletage with sweeping necklines and venerates the beautiful female form with body-hugging bodices and silhouettes. For the men, suits made grand gestures with elaborate embellishments and uncommon yet fashionable cuts and designs.
The award-winning designer is no stranger to Lincoln Center – this is his 5th year participating in Mercedes Benz Fashion Week here in New York. With a career that has spanned more than a decade, Tlale and his eponymous brand have consistently demonstrated that he is a force to be reckoned with in the fashion industry. His accolades include: Elle New Talent in South Africa Award; Best Designer by the Sunday Times in South Africa; Head Designer for Carducci Woman, under the House of Monatic Group in Cape Town, South Africa; presenter at Paris Couture Week; voted the most stylish designer at the South African Style Awards; just to name a few.
However, 2009 brought Tlale state-side after winning “Designer of the Year” at Africa Fashion Week. This award afforded Tlale the opportunity to debut his brand at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in the spring of 2010.
There is much to be said about the fashion week experience in general. For a newbie, it’s glamorously overwhelming. There is so much to see and take in, especially from the front of the runway or the much-coveted front row. Some shows are a full on spectacle of loud music, show stopping moments — at one Fashion Week show, a man came down the runway completely nude! — and over the top theatrics. David Tlale keeps his show refreshingly classic and allows his clothing to stop the show…not to mention the models. Devyn Abdullah, winner of Naomi Campbell’s “The Face” and Diandra Forrest are regulars on Tlale’s runway. Additionally, Tyson Beckford has graced all of us with his presence in Tlale’s last two shows.
There is much to be excited about when it comes to the future of David Tlale and his brand. More of what he has already shown us, along with some new designs, should make for a very interesting and fashionably exhilarating adventure…and more of Tyson Beckford isn’t necessary a bad thing either!