effectively whilst simultaneously being highly mindful of the safety aspects associated with the pandemic.
Twenty-six digital runway shows were streamed online over three days from 22–24 October 2020. This was followed by two live events in the Crystal Court at the Mall of Africa in Midrand during November 2020. These were:
- The SAFW Trade Show aimed at retail buyers with fifty designers of mens and womenswear as well as accessories ranging from footwear and handbags to costume jewellery and millinery
- The SA Fashion Week Pop-Up Shop which allowed fashion consumers to interact and buy directly from all the participating designers from 27–29 November.
The timing of these events was rescheduled to November to allow the impact and buzz generated by the Collections launch to be extended over three months instead of the customary four days. This proved to be hugely beneficial for SA Fashion Week’s stakeholders and in particular, the sponsors and the designers.
Move to Trans-Seasonality and Slow Fashion In line with the international trend and the increasing move towards a Slow Fashion ethos of sustainable and timeless design, SA Fashion Week 2020, too was marked by the emergence of trans-seasonal collections which incorporate both cool and warm weather elements.