Exclusive: Meet Gert-Johan Coetzee, Designer of Leading Ladies, Lupita Nyong’o, Bonang Matheba

When South African presenter Bonang Matheba nabbed the Sexiest Red Carpet Look at the Future Awards Africa in Lagos last weekend, the flowing, crystal-encrusted goddess gown with its gold lace bodice that she was poured into had more than a little to do with it! Queen B’s go-to designer, Gert-Johan Coetzee, had outdone himself, again! And anyone who follows the stylish diva’s red-carpet exploits will find that nine times out of ten, her winning outfit comes courtesy of this talented Johannesburg designer.

Bonang and Gert-Johan_1

But who is this man who understands the curves of a woman, and the magic of red-carpet glamour so well?

He’s dressed Kelly Rowland and Kourteney Kardashian… and a hand-written thank-you note from Lupita Nyong’o in his studio attests to the global success that is beckoning for Coetzee.

Bonang in GJC Bridal Couture

Raised in a small town South Africa’s North West Province as the youngest child of a farmer, Coetzee knew early on that he wanted to be a designer. He loved watching brides walk down the aisle, dreaming of the day that he would make such stunning creations. As a six-year-old he was dressing his pencils in tissue paper, and before he was 10 he started sewing lessons.

“My parents knew if they didn’t buy me fabric, I’d start cutting up the curtains!’ he says. Home-schooled by his mother, he started sewing in earnest, and at 16 dropped out of school to focus on learning the business of fashion. He was allowed to enroll at the Northwest School of Design although he was younger than any other student there, and earned that trust by becoming a star performer. One award followed the next, and after graduating as Designer of the Year, he soon moved to the bustling metropolis of Johannesburg and started cutting his teeth as a professional designer.

Bonang on the red carpet in GJC

Gert-Johan Coetzee Pty Ltd was launched in 2010 and his passion for red-carpet glamour quickly made him the designer of choice for South Africa’s celebrity set, with Bonang Matheba at the front of the queue as the face of the GJC brand. He is known for using his fashion platform to raise consciousness for social issues from HIV awareness to support for women victims of violence, and supports a group of fashion students with bursaries. His collaboration with albinism activist and model Thando Hopa has reverberated through headlines around the world.

Today Gert-Johan Coetzee is a household name, and while he still specializes in high-voltage red-carpet gowns, his label has grown to include ready-to-wear outfits for sale in boutiques and online, and even accessories.

Bonang Matheba in GJC Bridal Couture

He also launched a bridal couture range recently, which featured on social media immediately when Bonang wore one of the designer wedding dresses to present the Mrs South Africa pageant in October.

When next you visit Johannesburg, shop for Gert-Johan Coetzee ready-to-wear at Luminance luxury stores in Sandton City and Hyde Park, selected Edgars stores and at online boutique Spree.co.za. For couture, visit www.gertjohancoetzee.co.za

Watch Gert-Johan and Bonang at the recent SA Style Awards: 

Ada Igboanugo

Fashion Enthusiast.

42 Comments
  1. I was very pleased to discover this page. I want to to thank you for your time due to this wonderful read!! I definitely liked every part of it and I have you book-marked to see new information in your web site.

  2. My brother recommended I would possibly like this website. He was entirely right. This publish truly made my day. You can not consider just how a lot time I had spent for this info! Thanks!

  3. My family members every time say that I am wasting my time here at net, but I know I am getting familiarity all the time by reading such good articles or reviews.

  4. I blog quite often and I really thank you for your content. This article has truly peaked my interest. I will book mark your site and keep checking for new details about once per week. I subscribed to your Feed too.

  5. Greetings from California! I’m bored to death at work so I decided to check out your website on my iphone during lunch break. I enjoy the info you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m amazed at how quick your blog loaded on my phone .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, great site!

  6. Hey would you mind letting me know which webhost you’re using? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different web browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot quicker then most. Can you recommend a good internet hosting provider at a fair price? Many thanks, I appreciate it!

  7. I usually do not drop a leave a response, however after reading a lot of responses on this page Exclusive: Meet Gert-Johan Coetzee, Designer of Leading Ladies, Lupita Nyong’o, Bonang Matheba. I actually do have 2 questions for you if it’s allright. Is it only me or does it appear like some of these responses look like they are written by brain dead folks? 😛 And, if you are writing at other online sites, I’d like to follow anything fresh you have to post. Would you list of all of all your public pages like your Facebook page, twitter feed, or linkedin profile?

  8. Hey very nice blog!! Man .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your site and take the feeds also? I’m glad to search out so many useful information right here within the put up, we want work out extra techniques in this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .

  9. Hiya very nice web site!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Superb .. I’ll bookmark your website and take the feeds also? I am glad to search out a lot of helpful information here within the put up, we want develop more techniques in this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .

  10. Hi there would you mind letting me know which web host you’re working with? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different web browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot quicker then most. Can you suggest a good hosting provider at a fair price? Thanks, I appreciate it!

  11. Coming out of the bathroom without a shirt on at the same moment she decided she needed to use it? The only time she was truly undisturbed was on Sunday morning when she slipped out into the backyard and dug into the soil around the late blooming rose bushes, pulling out weeds that threatened to destroy the neat, ordered look of the flower bed. Just touching the soil brought a sense of peace to her soul, made her feel as though nothing bad could possibly happen in a world where nature was this beautiful, this perfect. She worked methodically, tugging at the weeds until none existed within a two foot radius of the plants. And then she went to work trimming the bushes that were flowering so profusely that the old blooms were suffocating the new ones. She knew nothing about roses. But instinct told her where to cut with the sharp shears she’d found in a little shed at the very back of the yard. Again her work was methodical. She would stop after every cut to step back and assess the new shape of the bush. When she was done, each bush seemed to stretch up toward the sun, as though thanking case de vanzare bucuresti her for freeing it from the cumbersome burden of its own prolific production. You’re a natural. Gwen jumped, the shears flying out apartamente de vanzare bucuresti of her hand and landing less than an inch from her big toe. She snatched them up before she turned, her gaze guarded as it fell on Tony. He gestured toward the bushes. Those roses haven’t looked that happy since we bought this house. I’m sorry, she said. I should have asked if it was okay to work out here. Feel free to do anything you like with the landscaping. He stood back and gave the yard a quick onceover. I love working in the yard, but I never seem to have the time it requires. You couldn’t tell by the way it looks. A slow smile slipped over Tony’s full lips. Thanks. Gwen shrugged and began to turn, intending to take the shears back to the shed. I apartamente de vanzare bucuresti know you’ve been in the system a long time, you’ve probably seen some pretty terrible things. But we’re all good people here. Gwen paused, a chill running down her spine. She’d heard that before, too. You don’t have to hide out in your bedroom if you’d rather not. I’m not hiding, she said. I just prefer my own company. I can understand that. I just want you to know you’re welcome in this house. It’s a safe place. But that was the thing, wasn’t it? Nowhere was safe for a kid on her own.   School began at 8:45 sharp. Maybe that was why Gwen was in a bit of a snit when she rolled out of bed at 8:15 and discovered that she had set the alarm clock wrong. She had checked it a dozen times, but somehow case de vanzare it was set at pm instead of am. She jumped out of bed and grabbed the clothes she apartamente noi bucuresti had carefully set out the night before, crushing the soft linen case de vanzare of a blouse she splurged to buy on sale at the mall over a month ago and had yet to wear. It was supposed to bring her good luck. It wasn’t working. Running http://apartamentedevanzarebucuresti.net/ late, newbie? Cei was standing in the doorway of the bathroom, a toothbrush http://apartamentedevanzarebucuresti.net/ in his hand and toothpaste foaming from his mouth like the slobber of a rabid dog. He was wearing a pair of jeans–black jeans that hugged the natural curves of his

  12. Superb blog! Do you have any hints for aspiring writers? I’m planning to start my own blog soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you advise starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that I’m totally overwhelmed .. Any ideas? Cheers!

  13. Aw, this was an extremely nice post. Finding the time and actual effort to produce a superb article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a lot and don’t seem to get nearly anything done.

  14. My spouse and I stumbled over here by a different page and thought I might check things out. I like what I see so now i am following you. Look forward to looking into your web page yet again.

  15. Greetings! I’ve been reading your blog for a long time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from New Caney Texas! Just wanted to say keep up the fantastic job!

  16. I simply couldn’t depart your site prior to suggesting that I extremely loved the usual information a person provide to your visitors? Is going to be again often to check out new posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

The online destination and fashion journal that goes beyond the surface and taps the pulse on all things FASHION. First out of Nigeria and increasingly across the continent, with wit, intelligence and humour.

FOLLOW US ON

TSS is an arm of the RED brand, which is the continent's largest omni-media group focused on Africa's youth.