Whatiftheworld / designstudio

A week or so ago, I was invited to a fashion event, at an unknown address in Bo-kaap, from an organisation / agency / group called Flance and to tell you the truth I was a little skeptical. It all seemed a little vague…I didn’t know whether to expect a fashion show, an exhibition or a really cool concept thingy that no one understands but you’re certain is very hip.

To say I was mistaken in my judgments is an understatement.

We all arrived at a building on Rose street (apparently where one of the organisers lives) and were greeted with a martini while we waited in the corridors of the building for the event to begin. As we walked in, it all became a little more obvious to me what was going to happen. Chairs were laid out, with a cat walk painted in grey on the floor.

Eugene Mayer and Alwijn Burger who are the ‘directive creators’ behind Flance presented us with an entire collection of clothing entirely assembled from secondhand items of clothing and homeware accessories entirely found at goodwill stores. Now I know that this sounds like an idea you might have heard before, but the execution, I think (and I’m no fashion fundi) was incredible!

Inspiration was mainly taken from the outfits of little Eadie Beale of the documentary Grey Gardens fame. And if you know the movie, you’d have recognised this early on. Outfits, fabrics, accessories were all pinned and tucked and draped in the most haphazard way that alone each garment looked a little muddled, but when viewed along side all the other garments, the result was incredibly sophisticated. The evening inspired me, and I’m so glad that this event wasn’t another one of those nondescript happening type things, but rather something very tangible and very intelligent.

Here’s what the boys have to say about Flance:

Collaboration was celebrated with the launch of FLANCE (word derived
from the Afrikaans word ‘saam-ge-vlans’) the new design-cross-
pollinator & concept agency. The autumn event ‘IMPRESSIONS ON
FASHION’ chose the catwalk as preferred medium. FLANCE has positioned
itself as brand without limits of interest, but above all no limits in
terms of challenge…

I can’t wait for the next one!
cheers
Liam