Ekhaya magazine

A lovely surprise arrived in the post this week, the September/October edition of the Ekhaya classic lifestyle magazine(a magazine I think everyone interested in local fashion needs to read). The editor in chief, James Nkemele did a four page feature of the Nooi Alice in Wonderland range. I was impressed by the quality of the magazine not to mention the charisma and warmth of the Editor.
Go check them out

By the way the photographers that did the Alice in Wonderland shoot, the awesome folks from welovepictures, shot the photo used for the cover of this months Sarie Bruid. We are so proud of there first cover!

God the ultimate designer.

Just a thought I wanted share with you...

A friend of mine who studied with me, once told me that her art teacher told her to look at nature for good colour combinations, yesterday this advise struck me again. Holidaying in the Western Cape I went to the two oceans acquarium. The fish are so beautifully dressed, stripes, patterns, feather like fins, soft pinks, even some leopard print... I was so amazed and inspired by the sight, nevermind the colour combinations some of "the clothes" they wear are extravegant beyond anything we have thought of, proving to me God as the ultimate designer.

Weiss Beer and Wolves

Weiss beer and Wolves, now you might wonder how does Weiss beer and Wolves cafe end up on a fashion blog, except for my beautiful gold and turquoise earrings I bought there, I had a conversation with the girl sitting next to me, that got me thinking about a new possible future for Nooi. Somewhere in the conversation I realised the girl thought I was the girl with the label that revamped vintage clothing, a conclusion she made from my wedding dress project. I thought, why don't I revamp old clothes? Not only does it fit in with the Nooi image but this could be very economical. Every Nooi garment covers the cost of drawing a new pattern and fabric, which then ends up in the garment's price, reducing profit...revamping old clothes completely eliminates those two elements that contribute to the price. And of course there is the green recycling element. Hmmmm.... I think I'll be visiting the hospice soon.

The Nooi wedding debute...

Photographs by Kate Mclukie
http://www.katemclukie@gmail.com

Saturday past was the wedding of my good friends the now McNeills. When Maike McNeill first started speaking to me about her wedding dress I tried my best to avoid it, but I knew from the beginning I was meant to make this dress. The Responsibility of it Stressed me out to much. It is some body's wedding dress! If you screw this one up, you disappoint the girl inside that has been dreaming about how she will look on her wedding day since early childhood. Being the ultimate dreamer and girl, to me there is no greater horror!

Being the ultimate dreamer and girl I immediately understood what it is that she wanted though. She asked me to just come and give her advise with the idea to guide her in telling who ever was going to make it what to do. The concept for this dress was taking her Gran's old wedding dress from the 1940's and reconstructing it into a modern dress for her, combined with crochet work from her other Gran. (I by the way love the sentiment behind this). Back to the idea giving, she put her Gran's dress on for me, and I pinned it on her body into an empire line dress, a very Victorian style, a very Nooi style and a style that really suits her body. I then put a leather belt and crochet work around her waist to finish of the look. She was so in love with the dress I could no longer say no to making it.

In time the style stayed, but rouging was added to the top, with a beautiful Silk Satin lining, and a soft silk chiffon skirt, to add a dreamy flowy feel. We kept the belt as this suited her personality. Strangely enough as unusual as it is to wear a leather belt on your wedding dress, no one even commented on it, it suited her so beautifully it completely blended in with the total image.

As scary and intimidating a process this was for me, it turned out to be nothing but fun, I got lost in the detailing and handwork, this is what making clothes is about! I hope to make many more wedding dresses in the future.