I'm one hell of a lucky girl. Two weeks ago I was given the privilege of being one of a few people who got to preview a new online boutique hosting some of South Africa's most talented designers - http://www.africhic.com/. Inspired by other successful online boutiques such as net-a-porter, Africhic aims to get the South African consumer on board with online purchasing whilst using the global reach of the internet to give South African and African designer exposure to the rest of the world. The site also gives you a place to get to know the designers with bios on the listed designers and video clips that give insight into the their inspiration.
The designers listed on the site are Lalesso, Missibaba, Thula Sindi, Ida Elsje, Michelle Ludek, Nazir, Philippa Green, Superella, Urban Africa and Suzaan Heyns - who was at the launch and who's covetable leather waistcoat and harem pants I absolutely must have in my wardrobe.
At the launch a discussion about the pricing of the items was had and my opinion is and has always been, South African consumers need to start to place South African couture on the same level as international couture. We complain about the high pricing of items, yet fail to realise that the small run that the exclusive, hand made piece you're buying is what adds to the expense, but also and most importantly to how precious that piece is. You won't run into thousands of people holding a gorgeous Missibaba handbag, but you will find thousands of Louis Vuitton bags (real ones by the way) on the arms of thousands of women.
