David Tlale, one of South Africa’s most revered fashion designers, is set to give Jozi a taste of what’s truly ‘Made in the City’ when he reveals his 2011 Autumn/Winter collections on the Nelson Mandela Bridge (Braamfontein) at Joburg Fashion Week on 19 February, 2011. He’s the first designer to showcase on the monumental Nelson Mandela Bridge structure.

The marriage of fabrics, colour and accessories always plays a huge role in a David Tlale collection; the Autumn/Winter 2011 collection is no exception. Tlale has used hard and soft fabrics, experimented with colour and has drawn from tribal influences to materialise his collection titled ‘Made In The City’. To accessorise this collection, Tlale has formed a strategic partnership with the Joburg-based Anglo-Platinum Limited, who will fully complement his collection. In its endeavour to support local beneficiation and inject the much-needed impetus into the local economy, Anglo Platinum partnered with the DTI Seda Platinum Incubator scheme, where local people are trained in jewellery design and manufacturing to support emerging jewellers.

Above The Modjadji Crown, one of the 18 jewellery pieces that were specially designed for David Tlale’s show by Djadji Platinum. The plain and corrugated visor-like headband is Sterling silver and weighs 3.85kg. It was manufactured by Esther Beukes of Beaudell Designs under supervision of Eve Maree.

“The City of Johannesburg is buzzing with vibrant energy, urban structures and all that is reflective of the 21^st Century Africa and it boasts one of the most respected statesman, Madiba, as its resident. So, I will send out 92 models down the Nelson Mandela Bridge, each one representing every year that Madiba has lived. This is huge,” boasts Tlale.