The Cape Town International Jazz Festival will showcase a stunning fashion show, putting the spotlight on local talent. Jacques LaGrange is the designer of this featured collection.
Image: Supplied
The return of a fashion showcase is set to amplify excitement ahead of this week's Cape Town International Jazz Festival, with organisers confirming its comeback on Thursday following a period absence.
Taking place from 6pm to 11pm, the invite-only event will be hosted at the Youngblood-Africa Gallery. The showcase forms part of a broader, month-long programme celebrating jazz, culture and art, while placing a spotlight on local design talent and creative expression.
A curated line-up of designers and brands will feature on the night, including Simply Mooi, Moira Hurungo, House of Lefane, Malusi Malefane, Aelahn, Feroza Webster, Ruff Tung, Jacques LaGrange, Cathy, Kluk/CGDT and Helon Melon.
LaGrange, one of the headline designers, highlighted the significance of the show’s return after several years.
“There has been a show before, but there hasn’t been any in the last couple of years. When they approached me, I said, ‘Yes, of course I’m going to do it because I love promoting new designers, I love to show what this country has to offer,’” he said.
He stressed the importance of synergy between creative industries, particularly fashion and music.
“There are only two major fashion, film, and music events showcasing these talents, and we have to make the best of it,” he added.
LaGrange also reflected on the limited global exposure for South African designers, particularly when compared to international fashion houses.
“You’ve never really heard of a South African designer dressing an international artist. Mariam Makeba used to do local designers, but all these people from abroad are coming in and wearing international designer clothes. And my thought is, why not local designers to show what we have to offer?” he said.
For the showcase, LaGrange selected designers with established reputations and proven track records in the industry.
“We chose local brands that already have been around the block. I’ve been around for 30 years in this industry. It’s established designers where the standards are next level,” he said.
Designers participating in the event will be given creative freedom, allowing the showcase to evolve beyond a traditional runway into a more immersive fashion installation.
“I’m excited for the young designers to showcase their work, but there are also well-established designers, such as Christiaan Gabriel Du Toit and Helon Melon,” LaGrange added.
He also confirmed that he will revisit some of his most recognisable creations.
“I will be showing stuff that I’ve shown before; some of it was showcased in Vogue and Glamour, and I want to showcase them,” he said.
Festival co-directors say the fashion showcase plays a key role in celebrating African creativity and collaboration across disciplines.
Georgia Jones said the integration of fashion and jazz reflects a broader cultural narrative.
“At its core, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival is a celebration of African creative collaboration. By bringing together African jazz photography and African fashion, we are highlighting the powerful visual culture that surrounds the music. This emphasises that jazz is not only a sound, but a cultural movement,” she said.
Carolyn Savage described the return of the showcase as a significant moment for the festival.
“Fashion has always been part of our creative DNA, and bringing it back after several years signals a renewed commitment to showcasing South Africa’s full creative ecosystem, where music, style and cultural expression intersect.
“It’s about celebrating local designers on a globally respected platform and reinforcing the festival as a space where different art forms come together to tell our story in a contemporary, relevant way,” she said.
The Cape Town International Jazz Festival will take place on March 27 and 28 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
For more information, visit www.capetownjazzfest.com. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.
DAILY NEWS