Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Africa marks the end of the fashion calendar each year and it’s by far one of the biggest platforms for designers from around Africa to showcase some of their best collections. This year’s MBFWA featured some incredible men’s fashion, trends and styles – here’s a closer look at some of the menswear straight off the runway:
Craig Native
Menswear designer Craig Native’s collection can be described as the point where urban trends meet African style, with a hint of retro inspired styling. The collection featured strong African prints along with urban styles like camo, graphic prints and bold colours.
Key trends: African prints, ruched-up pants, signature headgear, printed detail, loose-fitting tops, retro accessories, and alternative footwear.
David Tlale
In true David Tlale style he showcased a high fashion range with key menswear pieces that included leather and draped details. This collection is definitely designed for fashion forward men who like to make a stamen with their personal style.
Key trends: detailed trousers, leather pieces, draped shirts, cinched waistlines, and printed fabrics.
Dax Martin
Dax Martin is known for their hot and skimpy swimwear and their collection at MBFWA was exactly that, hot and skimpy – their swimwear featured bright summer colours like tangerine, mediterranean blue, green, and yellow.
Key trends: colour blocking, swimming briefs, squared-leg swimming briefs, colourful watches, and beach sandals.
Fabiani
South Africa’s best loved Italian label Fabiani, showcased in the Melrose Arch runway show alongside other high-end designers – their collection consisted out of easy going summer tailoring and dress shorts in bright colours.
Key trends: tailored blazers, dress shorts, leather footwear, classic polo shirts, nautical stripes and prints.
Kibonen
One of Cameroon’s most successful designers, Kibonen, has showed her collections in New York and now here in South Africa – her collection at MBFWA featured men’s tailoring in strong African inspired prints and bold colours.
Key trends: African prints, bold colors, and men’s tailoring.
Kim Gush
Newcomer Kim Gush showed her collection as part of the Fastrack Showcase and blew fashion lovers away with her talent – her collection consisted out of edgy leather and detailed knitwear, with a hint futurism to them.
Key trends: leather details, knits, signature trousers, futurism styling, and layered necklines.
Laurence Airline
Fashion label Laurence Airline is based in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire and their MBFWA collection featured brightly coloured African inspired menswear. Head designer Laurence Buthaud showcased prints in a new and unique way, along with bright jewel-tones.
Key trends: bright jewel tones, African prints, statement button stands, and leather footwear.
Projecto Mental
Shunnoz Fiel and Tekasala Ma’at Nzinga are the brains behind the Angolan label Projecto Mental, and featured a collection that took prints and tailoring to new heights – their collection showcased traditional men’s tailoring with bold printed details and accents.
Key trends: tunic shirts, bold prints, tailoring, pops of colour, bowties, contrasting sleeves, and signature footwear.
Mustafa Hassanali
Mustafa Hassanali showcased a strong African inspired summer collection with vibrant beadwork accessories – their menswear pieces included light cotton trousers and African print waistcoats.
Key trends: African prints, red accents, waistcoats, cotton trousers, and leather gladiator sandals.
U.Mi-1
The Creative Director of U.Mi-1, Gozi, uses sophisticated tailoring with interesting prints and style lines to create a unique African tailored look – her MBFWA collection showed how traditional prints and modern trends can seamlessly be blended together.
Key trends: tailoring, traditional prints, dress shorts, detailed style lines, bowties, and fedora hats.
For more details on the collections showcased at this year’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Africa follow on Twitter.
Photos by: SDR Photos
