By Remy Raitt
“We had a discussion with our fan who had spoken to the team and team management and they wanted to go for a royal aspect. We’ve done research and looked into African royalty, specifically Bafokeng royalty,” says fashion designer Malcolm Kluk.
Kluk and Christiaan Gabriël Du Toit, the creative forces behind Kluk CGDT, have been paired with fashion student Azara Amien for the soccer spirited challenge. Inspired by the passion of their Platinum Stars super fan, Boitumelo Khunou, they are working on a collection of three outfits.
“We have conceptualised something iconic in an original form,” says Kluk. “For the colour palette we have stuck with the team’s colours but in an edgier and darker way. We have played down the green and its cartoonish elements, and focused on something more current. We have also concentrated on the platinum and the navy.” But that’s all he is giving away.
He says working with Amien has been a pleasure. “Azara is fantastic. She is very creative and has a very similar mind-set to us,” he says. “She comes into the studio so she is getting first-hand experience on how we work. He says this interaction offers her a peek into the real world of fashion. “It’s showing her how to work in a team and how to think. When you are a student it’s very different to when you are working.”
Kluk says the most appealing thing about the challenge has been working with references they wouldn’t usually look to, “for example the fan fashion is very conceptual,” he says.
He says they are looking at all three outfits as a collection, something their competition seem to be doing too.
There are fifteen other teams in the running, the football inspired fashions will make their debut at a grand finale on Friday, 15 May just ahead of the Nedbank Cup final which takes place the following day.
For more information, visit www.nedbankcup.co.za and klukcgdt.com
Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook or on Twitter. Use the #NedbankCup, #ThingsThatReallyMatter and #TTRM hashtags to join the conversation.