By Wanique Block
South African contemporary designer Thebe Magugu has collaborated with Italian luxury brand Maison Valentino’s creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli for the September issue of Vogue magazine.
The collaboration at hand saw both designers embarking on a designer swap initiative.
This meant that both designers were given the opportunity to rework and transform a garment from each other.
Thebe Magugu worked on and reworked Pierpaolo’s A/W 2018 Haute Couture fuchsia pink puffed sleeve ballgown into a Trench coat and Wide leg pants and headdress.
“I think the concept of reworking and reinterpreting another designers work is very exciting. I think it creates an opportunity for there to be creative tension”, Thebe tells Vogue magazine.
Pierpaolo Piccioli on the other hand transformed Thebe’s Basotho inspired suit into a long coat, shirt, pants and gloves.
“I love the idea of reinterpreting, but actually I even more love the idea of creating a moment, between two identities and two cultures. A moment of meeting!”, Pierpaolo shares with Vogue magazine.
Ultimately not only does this collaboration place emphasis on craftsmanship from either designer, it also highlights fashion as a form of self expression and that transcends individual identities, culture and borders.
