South African ethical fashion label Heart and Heritage has had an interesting 2016. It started the year by opening it’s flagship store CONVOY, a collaboration between it and five other emerging South African labels including Merwe Mode, Selfi and Black Betty. It has also expanded its handmade production process to meet the potential demand that a physical store brings. So the 2016 South Africa Fashion Week spring showcases meant something entirely different to the brand, a chance to reintroduce themselves.
The collection heart and heritage shows captures the essential flirty flightiness of summer and traps it in clothing. Their silhouettes are minimalist, there is only one print dress in the entire collection and the palette is a mixture of flesh tones and earth tones. They reinvent the summer staples, skewering them with that distinct heart and heritage aesthetic. Asymmetric blouses are given extended shoulders and a high neck in lieu of sleeves and finished with a bow necktie, Cropped tees are draped over with chiffon, box shorts are flared at the hip and fastened at the waist with a linen belt. Even the more conventional pieces are tweaked just so, that they retain that ‘hand-made’ look that Herart and Heritage cherishes.
There are many stand out pieces in the collection, the opening look, a duo tone gossamer sundress with piped black shoulder straps and a belted waist that offers the illusion of flight. a full sleeved baby doll dress paired with translucent tights, the singular sequinned cocktail dress. There is something for the woman who wants clothes that are simple but individual.
Photo Credit: Safashionweek.co.za
