14 January 2020

Men's and women's collection 'Alkebulan' (word for 'Africa') by Rich Mnisi seen at Berlin Fashion Week

Berlin Fashion Week AW20 started yesterday with presentations, exhibitions,... at several places through the city like the catwalk shows by South African designers under the patronage of Mercedes-Benz at the Kraftwerk which is currently the fashion week's most important location for runway events. Among the designers, Rich Mnisi who delivered a color bouquet composed from fruity reds to orange, juicy greens to fresh urban-sports neon, and turquoise, ocean blue to lavender-lilac for women's and men's street couture. The inspiration behind the collection with the title 'Alkebulan' - the oldest word for 'Africa' and connected to 'Garden of Eden' and 'Mother of Mankind' (source: Etymology of the word Africa), is the beauty of the continent's nature and its rich tradition. The environment and its preservation is also the inspiration behind the production of details such as the hanging labels which are made of paper recycled from scraps of material. Into the paper, fine seeds are embedded for letting new plants grow.

Image right: View at the 45-meter long catwalk 'Mercedes-Benz presents Fashion Talents from South Africa' on 13 January 2020 at the new Mercedes-Benz Berlin Fashion Week location 'Kraftwerk' where more than 15 designers are scheduled to present from 13 to 15 January 2020. Photo: BrauerPhotos / M.Nass fuer Mercedes-Benz; © Mercedes-Benz AG.

Images below: Women's and men's wear from the 'Alkebulan' collection by Rich Mnisi, part of 'Mercedes-Benz presents Fashion Talents from South Africa' at MBFW A/W20 in Berlin, 13 January 2020. Photos: John Phillips/Getty Images; © Mercedes-Benz AG.