KaKKi: June 2013

Prayers for Madiba

My thoughts and prayers are with Nelson Mandela, his family and loved ones, all South Africans and people across the world who are inspired by his remarkable life and example.

In the words of Wayne Visser:

“I am an African. Not because I was born there
but because my heart beats with Africa’s.
I am an African. Not because I live on its soil
but because my soul is at home in Africa.
I am an African. For her wildness quenches my
spirit and brings me closer to the source of life”

KaKKi
xx

Topic: The Difference between a Fashion designer and a Tailor

Hello...
So I have been meaning to write on this topic for a while. My blog has been created to give you ideas and get different inspiration of designs, styles that you can get. It is here to help you with all the ideas of what can or may not suit you. The only drawback right now is information of good tailors. Truth be told..we all have had bad experience with tailors giving stories of them not completing the garmet, or doing a bad job or not having the actual vision of the type of garmet you want. I wish i could be the super seamstress. I am still on a learning journey of tailoring. So here we are setting the record straight.

Most of the people confuse a Fashion Designer with a Tailor. The reason may be both use the same tools and the end product is the apparel/ dress/ garment. However there is huge difference in how they work. Well basically tailors directly take measurement of the client and stitch the clothes according to the design given by the client. The Fashion Designer on the other hand is the creator of a new design. The Designer takes inspiration from different themes and draws new ideas, the creative mind behind any item of clothing, be it high fashion runway gramet or your regular pair of jeans or tee shirt. They conduct reasearch, develop a concept through sketches and oversee the various design and production processes that bring their sketches to life. Most of us have seen how tailors work, but not many are aware how a Fashion Designer does alot of planning and follows specific process to make the final garment. So it has to be clear that we should not confuse that the Tailors and Fashion Designers are same. Many Fashion Designers call them self sophisticated Tailors.#wink#

Now..must a fashion designer necessarily have his own clothing line or engage in bespoke services?? Nope! Must a fashion designer sew?? Nope! If he/she has the skills and chooses to, why not?! In my opinion, if he/she wants to run a proper business, he has no business sewing but needs enough knowlegde to guide his/her team..I think it cant even be a hobby. It has to be full commitment.

And on to the other question..who is a tailor?? This is where most people bungle. The usual answer I get is a tailor is someone who jsut sews or joins the garmet...or something along those lines. bweeee..Many of us assume that the term tailor refers to the people many of us love to yell at for wrecking our clothes almost everytime. In fact, more often than not, when one is called a tailor, we consider it as derogatorty term. But the truth is...the the word tailor has really been abused in this day. In my opinion to be called a tailor is actually an honour! Why you ask? kikkki. Think of the term tailored garmet...and go on to think of Oswald Boateng (http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/07/opinion/ozwald-boateng-africa-change) , Savile Row Tailors (http://www.savilerowtailor.com/). And tell me why should I not be proud to be called a tailor?! A tailor is the true master and architect of clothing. He/She makes customised clothing and considering their unique peculiarities and goes through a painstaking process of pattern making and intricate garmet construction techniques including handwork and various fittings to come up with an awesome garmet with perfect finishing. He/She has to have specific hand and machin sewing and pressing techniques that are unique to the construction of the garmet. So a taiolr definately has to know how to sew, cutting, make customised clothing etc. So we have to give them credit for attempting to create customized clothes for their customers everytime.

a designer visualises

and it turns to this

	TAILOR	FASHION DESIGNER
1.	A tailor is a person who makes, repairs, or alters clothing professionally	A fashion designer conceives garment combinations of line, proportion, colour, and texture. While sewing and pattern-making skills are beneficial, they are not a pre-requisite of successful fashion design. Most fashion designers are formally trained or apprenticed.
2.	A tailor makes customized dress for a client who walks in his shop.	Fashion Designers usually works on seasons to develop a collection of garments, which require a lot of planning studying forecast and the market study. A designer may also make customized dress for a client.
3.	A tailor usually makes dresses which the client might select from what the celebrities wears published in magazines, news papers.	A Fashion Designer designs original clothes, which also has their label on it.

Thankyou for reading.What do you think?? Your comments keep me going.
If you know of any good tailors please contact us so we can share with other members.

KaKKi
xx

COMING SOON TO KaKKi

Hi all,

Thankyou to all those that have joined the KaKKi group on facebook..thankyou to all that have joined the blog. Show us your lovely African print out fits or Chitenge fusion outfits. Join the blog and you stand a chance of winning KaKKi Chitenge pumps or stand a chance of getting a free shoe revamping. Also coming soon to KaKKi are Chitenge His and Hers loafers and pumps...so make sure the brother next to you likes our facebook page and joins the blog. We wait for your input on posts.

If you have an outfit pic that you would like to share, send it to
kaluswikakakoma@gmail.com

Have a fab day KaKKi fam.

Chitenge Peep toe pumps

Yet another project. For those interested, you can contact me on revamping a pair of heels, slippers or pumps. I have had these pumps for two years..used to wear them to work but last night I decided to change them for my black jeans and for something else. It took me an hour to complte this project.

Chitenge fabric

Before

After

Have a lovely weekend.

KaKKi
xx

Topic: Fashionista, Fashion Stylist and Fashion Designer

Hello..

I have had a busy week at work. The travelling and field work are always somthing I look forward to. But this week..the cold was a no no. But am glad today Friday the sun is out. Yesterday was my husbands birthday and we celebrated it in style and with family.

Today i thought of talking about a few terms that we are using sooo often these days.
I understand that there are some peculiar diferences between 3 main terms I relate to: fashionista, fashion stylist and fashion designer.. :)

According to Urban Dictionary and some others vague definitions (I swear I tried to use a more reliable source), Fashionista is “a person devoted to fashion clothing, particularily unique or high fashion”. Some other definitions evoke some obsession or slavery to fashion. Some others name Carrie Bradshaw (Sex and the City) as an original fashionista, some others say that a fashionista might be a fashion designer (or not).
On Fashion Stylist, I’ll quote a fashion stylist, via her Blog: “A fashion stylist is someone who selects clothing and accessories for a fashion advertisement or editorial. There are many different types of potential clients for a stylist. For example, a celebrity may hire a stylist to dress them for a red carpet event or for their private life. The job description varies widely as some stylists work on exclusive projects like music videos, acting as a costume designer to create one-of-a-kind looks for the star.”
On the other hand, says Alexandra, in the same blog post: “Fashion designers create clothing, and they may not necessarily be great stylists. They typically sketch the item or outfit, create the pattern, pick out the fabric and trimmings, sew the garment, and fit the garment to the individual. If the garment is mass-produced, there is someone who liaisons with the factory to make sure that each piece turns out as planned. The product of a designer is the actual garment.”

Which means, in short:
a fashionista loves- and buys services/products or promotes them;

a fashion stylist selects- and sells a service/product;

a fashion designer … well, designs and sells a product.

I’m not saying that one person can’t have it all – you gotta love clothing to design and to select them, right? – but a fashionista or a fashion stylists could not be prepared or have what it takes to be a fashion designer; and a fashion designers could be lawsy at styling. :)

So, when the subjectiveness of “talent” and “amazing” are compared objectively, maybe being only a fashionista or a fashion designer isn’t enough. I know I’m not a fashionista, in the sense of “loving “clothes and trends, and I don’t always know how to put together 2 pieces of cloth for myself sometimes, either. But will that make me a not-so-good fashion designer? At the same time..am good at selecting clothes..recommending for friends or family.. I cant sew a garment yet..but i can sketch the item or outfit. I can pick out Chitenges but not all fabrics for a pattern. Hmmm....yet am here on this blog showing you different styles, patterns you could have made with an eye for uniqueness.

Well lets objectivity decide. Meanwhile, maybe you can pick something up out of this journey!
What do you have to say?? Your comments keep me going.

If you have an outfit pic that you would like to share, send it to
kaluswikakakoma@gmail.com

KaKKi
xx