In celebration of Nelson Mandela Month, there is a lot that one can do to commemorate this great South African political veteran, from giving up 67 minutes of your time to do some good deeds, making blankets for the needy, to turning those blankets into fashion garments.
The Good Things Guy publication reported that fashion students from Pretoria turned the Brooklyn Mall into a fashion show when they showcased their designer clothing items made of blankets, at the 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day Curated Collection.
In a Facebook post, the 67 Blankets organisation explained that the Curated Collection is a “collaboration between Brooklyn Mall, The Scoin Shop, 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day, and Embassy Direct that runs until the 18th of July.”
According to the Good Things Guy, how this all started was that “67 Blankets for Mandela Day challenged the fashion students from the STADIO School of Fashion to create handcrafted looks made from an array of sustainable and upcycled materials. This was all part of an idea to show the public the unlimited potential repurposed materials have, as part of the Curated Collection campaign.”
This is when the students came together and produced the stunner outfits that got people talking about them in awe and admiration. The publication also stated that the 67 Blankets organisation commended the students and mentioned that their work far exceeded the organisation’s expectations.
Internet users on Facebook also weighed in on the post to applaud the fashion students.
One user said, “So cool! I even spotted a blanket that I put together!’
Another user commented, “Wonderful work to all who contributed and all the heroes who put so much effort to make this event happen.”
Jacques Bam of The Bam Collective, who was one of the judges at the Curated Collection, gave them a compliment saying, “I was particularly struck by the idea that the exhibits can all be completely deconstructed without damaging the blankets to ensure they can be donated. It is such a beautifully considered way of looking at clothing. Ultimately, I am also proud and excited to see young designers’ work on full display! It is so inspiring to know that the future of creation in South Africa is in great hands.”
Also see: Local designer creates fashion pieces using Woolworths shopping bags
