Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week 2012
On the 9th of September 2012, our very own David Tlale descended upon New York in true DT fashion and brought his own unique brand style to the Big Apple.
The show was progressive and showed a fusion of various cultures ranging from African, American, Asian and Indian to Middle Eastern with of course a little drama on the side, which we have come to expect from David.
He brought in these strong cultural influences by making use of ‘gele’ (head gear common in Nigeria), heavily embroidered skirts and pants worn by men in India and long, yellow gowns with dramatically plunging necklines. His message to world was clear; you can’t place me in a box, I am unique and my customer-base who I design for is just as unique!
David had this to say in an interview with Ladybrille Magazine “In the beginning I was a ball of nerves. Worried about how the collection was going to be received. I can now safely say that I am relieved and quite pleased. The reviews have been absolutely amazing. Showcasing at a platform like New York Fashion Week has long been a dream of mine and I’m very happy that the New York market was receptive to my collection. My staff worked very hard on this collection in a very short space of time. We showcased a very urban Africa. The collection exuded elegance and sophistication. I called it “Transcendence,” because I wanted to show a migration from the “perceived” Africa to a more modern and transcendental work that goes through and beyond cultural nuances and the delivery of that work to the global consumer.” — David Tlale
We see it every time David showcases one of his collections, he has his own unique style that pushes the envelope by continuing to innovate in fashion, which he manages to beautifully balance with creativity and functionality. This indeed separates him from many other designers and what will continue to place him on a path of global success and recognition. It might also explain why the likes of Fern Mallis, Founder of New York Fashion Week, and celebrated fashion critic, Suzy Menkes, made time to attend his debut event.
