ELLE RISING STAR 2013 DESIGN AWARD JUDGING SESSION /// INSTAGRAM PICS

To say I’m not the biggest fan of instagram pics on blogs would be an understatement. Everytime I see an instagram post transferred onto a blog I just wanna com sui by taking the closest minora blade to my wrist. No really, huh uh, stop it. But hey, here I am reposting instagram pics on blogger. Hypocrisy happens, you'll live.

Some of you may know that I am one of the judges on this year’s panel for the Elle Rising Star Design Award, and on Wednesday last week we had the second round of judging where the finalists presented four garments each, half of their ranges basically. Obvs I couldn’t take my camera and shoot entire ranges, you have to wait until the actual show for that, so I didn’t bother bringing my camera. I took these sneak peeks/pics with my phone and posted them on instagram, I’ve combined them here with pics I've illegally taken from Elle’s instagram account.

The talent was amaze, no really, it was, I’m not just saying that on some PR bullshit vibe. I'm talking people creating their own fabrics and prints kind of amazing. I once was a fashion student and after that a young designer, and to see the work people are hooking up right now always reminds me what a lazy shit I was, and it inspires me to do better now that I know better. So ja, this judging session totally gave me life, which is why I have to share it with you and break my ‘no instagram pics on the blog’ rule.

AT LUNCHTIME LAUNCH OF LEGIT X GAVIN RAJAH COLLABO

This past Friday we celebrated over lunch with Gavin Rajah and Legit, the launch of their collabo. Awesome times and a little too much bubbly for lunchtime. Without rambling on too much about press release stuff, Gavin made a point of making it very clear that the range is an actual Gavin Rajah designed range, and he is not just giving Legit his name to use on some random buyer chosen garments, which i thought was really great, not only for fans of the label but for new customers as well. The range comes out in November. Unfortunately, the lunch was not about seeing the actual range, however, there are some campaign images that came with the press pack at the bottom of the post. I believe they were shot by photographer Ross Garrett. Enjoy

UMLILO /// THE ELEMENTS

I first posted 'bout Umlilo here, when I went to his Shades of Kwaai ep launch. If you haven't seen that post i suggest you check it out, just to see what a visual feast his gigs are. Then come back here to check out The Elements, his second single of that EP. Watch it, love it, share it. I absolutely love where is his sound and general production is headed. Without further ado, here be The Elements:

FUN TIMES, THURSDAY /// IT ALL STARTED OUT INNOCENTLY ENOUGH

It really did all start out quite innocently, out at sea on a sailing yacht, for the launch of Mainstay 54, the brand's Island Vodka, which we sampled quite a lot of, in cocktails, straight, and in a variety of flavours, some of which were so yummy that one forgot that there was alcohol in the drink, and just kept on downing. Dangerous I tell ya.

Then Bee and I hosted some friends at the new Merchants Shebeen on long, some of you will remember the spot as Merchants Cafe. Well that's done, it's called Merchants Shebeen now.

Then we headed off to Clarke's, because you know, too much of a good thing is what we're about.

But of course, it wouldn't be binge drinking if it didn't end up at our favourite dive, the Kimberley.

Which brings us to this silly skhothane moment, when we decided to test if my tablet was as beerproof as it is waterproof. I am am happy to announce that indeed it is. We also kinda took this moment as a sign that it was time to call it a night.

HAITUS SCHMAITUS......& WE'RE BACK /// MISSHAPE X ANTHEA KNOWS BEST

I think it was that great sage Timbaland on Aaliyah's Try Again who uttered the words, "It's been a long time, long time. We shouldn't have left you, left you, without a dope beat to step to, step to, step to, step to."

Hello skattie, it's been a while, askies liefling, I trust you'll be your usual forgiving self. See I decided to unionize and go on a bit of a strike against myself. I know I am a year or ten behind on the strike trend, but one can't be on trend all the time. I highly recommend it though, for any part of your life where you're your own boss, strike against yourself, demand better conditions, better hours, better food, fuck it, demand a better baas. As for me the negotiations were intense, I said fuck you Mali, imma party hard and imma leave that camera at home until the working conditions improve, starting with the ridiculous hours and the poor healthcare, it's tools down you stingy muthaphukka.

Being the terrible boss I am to myself, I haven't found a way to improve the working hours, but the healthcare is getting better, starting with joining a boxing class. With at least that one condition met, I have decided return to work, as a good faith gesture you see, but make no mistake, the negotiations are far from over, and imma burn this bitch to the ground if conditions don't improve. 

Anyway, now that I am back, I must share these pics with you from the Misshape show at the Durban Fashion Fair a coupla weeks ago. I know, it's a bit late, but hey, a strike will do that to ya. I am total sucka for creative collabos, especially when the end result looks like this. I really dug this range, which was collaboration between Misshape's Jamal Nxedlana and self-described "boss bitch" Anthea Poulos a.k.a Anthea Knows Best. I thought it so young, and it spoke that language beautifully. I love sport-luxe vibes, it's one of my favourite fashion themes, and combined with that kinda Swazi print? ja I loved it. Enjoy.