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Design poll selects South Africa's fashion icon
A public poll has chosen the winner of South Africa's first-ever D-list, which honours public figures who love, support, wear, buy, create or flaunt local design.
And the winner is … Nelson Mandela, the epitome of South African style, creativity and resourcefulness.
The D-list website (www.d-day.org.za) credits Mr Mandela with single-handedly reinventing what it means to be a South African. It also singles out his distinctive shirts as proof of his uniquely South African fashion sense.
Visitors to the site voted him top of the list of 21 design-conscious celebs.
The D-list was one of the initiatives created to publicise D-Day, or National Design Day, which was part of last month's (February's) Design Indaba Expo.
On D-Day, all South Africans were urged to demonstrate their love of local design, and their own unique South African creativity. The D-list proved that some of our best-known and most glamorous citizens are doing just that.
While Mr Mandela proved the most popular local design icon, a number of other listees received considerable support.
Andrew Chicken, the innovative entrepreneur who markets locally-made essential oils to the international perfume industry, was a firm favourite for his "atypical dress sense".
Chicken says of South African creativity: "I am proud of the talent and skill which is evident in some very dynamic and innovative designs and concepts. Our long isolation seems to have stimulated a fresh outlook and some innovative lateral thinking".
Glamorous former model-turned-designer, Gretha Scholtz, was also a hot pick. The well-travelled Scholtz is a passionate ambassador for local fashion, creating a sensation wherever she appears in her South African couture.
The creative genius behind the Stoned Cherrie fashion label, Nkhensani Manganyi, was another popular choice. Manganyi was nominated because "she exemplifies D-Day's commitment to giving the familiar a beguiling twist: creating a distinctive Afro-urban style which conflates past and present".
According to Manganyi, "We are currently negotiating our identity as South Africans. There's a new kind of consciousness about. Most of our creative endeavours aim to make history a part of popular culture so that we can inspire an interest in restrospection and a celebration of who we are".
The organizers of D-Day are already casting around for nominees to next year's list. Which means all those Gucci/Hilfiger/DKNY/Versace-clad celebs out there will have to work fast to rethink their wardorbes if they want to be counted among our most stylish citizens.
Madiba is South Africa's ultimate design icon
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela has emerged as the epitome of South African style in the D-Day/SABC Morning Live Design Icon competition.
Winning entrant, Gift Ramugumo of Kempton Park, summed up the feelings of all proud South Africans when he described our first democratic president as: "A living legend. The best thing that has happened to Africa and to the world. To call him an icon is an understatement."
Other entrants mentioned Mr Mandela' contribution to the creation of the new South Africa and his famous shirts.
The competition's second prize goes to Tamaryn Burgess from Centurion who nominated the distinctly South African wire car as our most outstanding national icon. "It's colourful, sturdy, well-known, innovative, entertaining and every child wants one. Made for years by South African entrepreneurs and it still hasn't lost its charm," she said.
Both winners are being flown to Cape Town to celebrate D-Day at the Design Indaba Expo, which runs until Sunday at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
Other South African institutions which attracted considerable support were fashion designers and retailers. Among the most popular were Stoned Cherrie, Hip Hop, Loxion Kulcha, Gavin Rajah, Sun Goddess, Darkie, Woolworths, YDE and Errol Arendz.
Iconic places included the refurbished Park Station, Spier Wine Estate, Parliament, Singita Lebombo Game Lodge, Cape Town and the Karibu Café in Shoshanguwe.
Boerewors, rooibos tea, Irma Stern, "Cape Flats teeth culture" and Frene Ginwala were also mentioned as true South African design icons.
D-Day's landmark makeover
Traffic came to a standstill in Cape Town as Jan van Riebeeck, his wife Maria and General Louis Botha became models for the latest contemporary South African fashions.
Jan and Maria were resplendent in co-ordinated outfits by Gavin Rajah, while Louis opted for a creation by Darkie. And all to draw attention to D-Day on February 27.
The Van Riebeeck's were up bright and early for their fitting at their airy Heerengracht home. Gavin dressed Jan in a long brown wig and flowing cape, while Maria looked centuries younger in her chi-chi headscarf.
Parliament served as the backdrop for the next fashion upgrade as South African designer, Darkie, transformed the Boer General's rather dated military look into something with a bit more style and flair. So stunning was the effect that even Trevor Manuel stopped to ask our D-mented personality, Soli Philander, what was going on.
The show was a resounding success and we are sure that Jan, Maria and Louis are feeling a bit funkier, thanks to our intrepid designers! Many thanks to all the members of the press and, of course, Gavin Rajah and Darkie for all their help.
Watch this space for photo's from our dress-up party!
D-Day ads D-mand a response
Do something dramatic, distinctive, decorative, dynamic - that's the message of the D-Day advertising campaign which broke this week.
It's on radio, it's on TV, it's in the press, it's on billboards … it's even on lampposts. Not only are South Africans urged to recognize, appreciate and support local design, but to make their own creative contribution to National Design Day.
And there's more to come. Keep an eye out for strange happenings in your town and on your TV as D-Day fever catches on around the country.
To see and hear our advertising campaign, click here.
Soli Philander invades Parliament
There were amazing scenes at the Opening of Parliament last week when comedian and actor, Soli Philander, accosted MP's and other dignitaries, demanding to know if their outfits were South African-made.
Soli, a high-ranking member of the SA National Design Force, collared everyone from FW to President Mbeki himself to canvass their attitudes to local design.
The great news is that just about everyone was decked out in South African finery. And they looked D-vine.
Watch out for highlights of Soli's Parliamentary D-bate in the D-Day television campaign.
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