South African fashion
in Jakarta

December 2000

The creative designs of Meissie Mosimane and Nandipa Madikiza

The Hotel Borobudur in Jakarta, one of a favorite haunt of the expatriates, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa Jakarta base, recently presented a South African Fashion Show. The talented and gifted fashion designers Meissie Mosimane and Nandipa Madikiza displayed designs that are suitable to wear in a country like Indonesia. Taking place at the Singosari Restaurant on November 26, 2000, it was aim at introducing the unique and beautiful South African fashion design in Indonesia and to enhance bilateral relationship between the two countries, particularly in cultural exchanges.

Meissie Mosimane started a long and tedious yet an outstanding career in the fashion industry as early as the 1970s creating her own collection labeled “What’s Up”. Expanding her work to Lesotho, Mabatho and Johannesburg, having being the first exclusive Afro shop of its kind. Meissie fashion has already reached the international market in a number of European countries and even in the United States. Her unique design are a mixture of continental African style with exciting colorful combinations.

Johannesburg-based Nandipa Madikiza graduated in 1985, Manchester Polytechnic, United Kingdom took her intemship while working in London with David and Elizabeth Emmanuel (the designers for the late Princess Diana’s wedding gown) and also Bukta and Sigma Wear Sport’s Company in Manchester. Nandipa first introduced herself as a Euro-African fashion designer in the United Kingdom where she supplied garments to boutiques and individuals in London, Manchester and Birmingham. Returning to South Africa in 1989, she established her own business and is regarded as the front runner in the now popular Euro-African fashion.

Not only is Nandipa gifted, and there are days where she is involve in various community projects, among them, the South African Kidney Foundation, The Sowetan Woman of the Year, The Soweto Community Builder of the Year and had staged a charity fashion show for the Presbyterian Church in East London. Her collection has graced the land of Hamburg and London and has participated in the much-acclaimed J & B Rare Designers Award.

Models from Perfect Models

Published in Roving Insight Magazine