Creative and artistic director of Vanessa G is the latest South African designer to own and open a freestanding store in the UK, write Yolanda Mdzeke & Katlego Mkhwanazi.
Entrepreneur Vanessa Gounden believes the South African fashion industry has a wealth of unique talent in South Africa.
Coinciding with her 50th birthday celebration, entrepreneur Vanessa Gounden launched the Vanessa G fashion label in London in 2011 – a luxury womenswear with her at the helm as creative director. Now it’s a month and 20 days since the doors of Vanessa G’s flagship store opened on Conduit Street in London on June 3.
With the daring tag-line “to be worn with attitude”, the label has already been worn by top international models such as Poppy Delevigne, Jade Jagger, Yasmin le Bon and Natalia Vodianova and has showcased at several London and New York Fashion Weeks, with Gounden promising to showcase at SA Fashion Week in 2016.
Gounden’s fashion line is epitomised by bold prints and colours, and 3D layering with special focus on the incorporation of art into fashion, infusing the two to create original pieces with innovative combinations in fabric and textures – what she calls “wearable art”.
‘Handcrafted luxury’
According to the South African designer, her brand is targeted at the independent, free-spirited, confident and adventurous woman who has an appreciation for arts and fashion.
The Vanessa G label is also available at D’ore store at 6 Cavendish Street, Claremont, Cape Town, 7708.
See full report and interview by Yolanda Mdzeke & Katlego Mkhwanazi with Vaness Gounden in Mail & Guardian
