photos by Chris Saunders: (All but the first photo are of the SMARTEEZ collective)‘For decade
photos by Chris Saunders: (All but the first photo are of the SMARTEEZ collective)‘For decades, international designers have been borrowing influences from Africa: tribal and animal prints, head wraps, safari suits, wooden jewellery, Masai blankets and so on. It’s great in terms of keeping Africa on the catwalk, but now designers are doing it for themselves'The Smarteez are a four-strong DIY design collective. They epitomise the possibilities that are open to South Africa’s young post apartheid generation. Soweto’s style tribe refuse to be defined by their roots or race, are bold and original in their approach to fashion, and have turned the art of looking good into a fully fledged fashion label and scene’ Picture: Kepi, one of the designers from The Smarteez collective, poses by the local Buy & BraaiChris Saunders is one of Johannesburg’s leading photographers. His work straddles fashion, documentaries, portraiture and advertising but it’s his street style photography I enjoy the most. He always captures joy in his subjects and his images exude optimism about urban Africa. It’s little wonder that he was one of the first snappers to gravitate toward the Smarteez.’Thabo from the Smarteez, sitting outside a fabric store in downtown Johannesburg (in purple), where the collective often shop. He is wearing a traditional Zulu hat made by the lady seen sitting next to himsee more via the Guardian -- source link
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