African prints create shoes and clutch bags for fashionistas скачать в хорошем качестве

African prints create shoes and clutch bags for fashionistas

(11 Oct 2014) LEADIN: Traditional African prints, like those worn by the late Nelson Mandela are recognisable globally. Normally reserved for weddings and special occasions, a young African designer is working this cloth into fashionable everyday accessories. STORYLINE: The vibrant colours and loud patterns of traditional African prints demand attention. Now designer Maria McCloy is determined they take their place at the heart of every fashionistas wardrobe. McCloy knows the best places to find African print cloth in Johannesburg, which she uses on her shoe and handbag creations. 'Three years ago I had this idea, why don't I use this cloth which before I had always used around my waist and on my head. Why don't I put this beautiful cloth onto shoes and clutches? Because everybody uses shoes and clutches and my philosophy really is take African aesthetics and African designs into life. Don't just use it for weddings and special occasions. Let's use it everywhere. It's sexy, it's beautiful.' Although distinctly African in look, these materials are generally made in India and China. McCloy has made her selection of vividly coloured material. She takes the cloth across town to A C Kalla Fashion Outlet. Nazeer Kalla takes instructions from McCloy, and using plain shoes as a base has her African print creations made in a Durban factory. 'Maria brings her fabrics to us and what we do is work with the local factories, and we realise her vision where we take her fabric and a little bit of our input and we come up with a great concept. Again, she's the designer, everything passes through her hands for final approval.' Having switched from a shoe-maker to a factory, McCloy has been able to up her production to meet growing demand. 'There's been such a positive response to my African print shoes and clutches, and now my production is perfect I really can grow my business and meet all the demand, in South Africa, in the rest of the continent and also around the world.' At the Rosebank Shopping Mall, McCloy arrives to drop off a consignment of shoes and clutches at one of the outlets that stocks her designs. Shop assistant Faith Kgaphola explains the appeal of McCloy's accessories. 'We sell African print here in Burgandy Fly - we promote African designers. Maria's clutch bags and shoes go very well with the things we have here in the store, because she's African and she uses African print. People right now love print on print. That's really fashionable at the moment.' Shopper Mpume Ngobese is positive about McCloy's accessory range. 'I think they're pretty awesome - the vibrancy of the colours. The boots and the pumps are stunning and I think they go with any outfit - you can dress them up, you can dress them down. And I think the clutches are awesome. I mean, every lady needs a clutch, where you can put everything in -- your car keys, lipstick, so I think it's awesome.' Before leaving, McCloy uploads her latest creations onto Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram and Facebook, social media is a powerful marketing tool. One of the local magazines that have featured McCloy's designs is 'True Love'. Fashion Editor Palesa Mahlaba is enthusiastic about having African designers work with African print. 'She's at the forefront as well. We're taking these things internationally. So that the internationals can also see that we're also capable of taking our own fabrics and diversifying them - like not waiting for people like Louis Vuitton, like Chanel, to show up. Instead she's taking it to them, and I respect that.' McCloy says using social media has allowed her to tap into international markets. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...