Hard work payed off!
The day everyone has been waiting for this whole year has finally arrived and it was over within a blink of an eye, yet every astonishing second imprinted a lifetime of amazement. LISOF’s 23rd annual fashion show truly was the best show thus far. However, it is not just about the glitz and glam of the show, but about the months of preparation, hard work, meters and meters of fabric, thread and lots of sewing that not only made this day possible, but made this show something to remember. Fortunately, I had the privilege to be a participant in this show as a model and through this I realised what hard work actually meant for the designers. I saw and experienced all their emotions attached to their specific moments of awe received from the audience and how happy that made them.
Although the show only started at 19h00, the chaos started long before. The designers arrived early, ready to set up their wardrobe back stage, equipment from all sorts were seen everywhere and models where running around between stations to get their hair and makeup done and walking up and down the ramp to memorise the order in which they had to walk. The rush of getting everything done on time was so stressful, yet so exiting!
Makeup look 1 & 2:
Finally! The show started and after seeing lots of other amazing designs, Lydia de Kock’s garment appeared on the runway. Her unique design stood out from all the other designs yet it still embodied the main theme showcased by the rest of the second-year show, which was ‘Urban Refugee’. Each garment brought the theme to life and when I saw the finale, it felt like we were approached by an army of refugees standing up for their rights as “Refugees are human beings with skills, talents and aspirations”, Alexander Betts. It was also as if the refugee crisis was called upon stage to communicate that refugees should be welcomed anywhere into the world so that they can start their new lives.
Lydia de Kock and her design:
Lydia’s garment perfectly added awareness to the refugee crisis. It appeared as if the model wearing the garment could be seen as a refugee, ready to flee from his circumstances, looking to plant new roots somewhere else. The oversized garment can be seen as a comfortable and protective hiking suit which protects the refugee from the weather or that of other environmental influences which may cause harm. The fabric of the garment is made up of water proof canvas which can be used to make camping tents, while the garment is also geared with a rolled-up mat which someone can sleep on. This indicates that the refugee can travel from one place to another as well as rest up between travels, but most importantly he will be able to flee as quickly as possible if need be. The colour of the garment is a dark and earthly green which can be associated with someone that is poor and dirty and in this case, once again a refugee, as some of them do not have the luxury to take a nice shower and have clean clothes to wear. Green “evokes the first days of spring when nature's greens revive, restore and renew” and through this one can assume that this is what is communicated on behalf of the refugees.
Close-up of fabric used:
2nd Year Fashion Show Rehearsals, Finale: Look and feel of theme – Global/Urban Refugee:
Furthermore, I am very impressed with how Lydia takes current trends into account such as, the colour of the year which is Greenery and the use of comfortability and functionality within her designs which now, as more and more people travel, is a huge trend. The styling of her overall look is kept simple which I like because not only is makeup and accessories kept to a minimal, but the entire garment itself has its own unique style.
2nd Year Fashion Show Garment Rehearsals and Fashion Show:
I think Lydia will achieve amazing things within the fashion industry, because she knows how to clearly communicate what is happening in the world through her fashion on the runway. She would love to use fashion as a platform to make people aware of all the good and the bad things that is present in modern day society, but also in that of past events.