Salaams and Hello StyleExploras!


I hope you bought your tickets for the #HFWSA (Hijab Fashion Week South Africa)! An event not to be missed!

Here is more information and all of the questions I have been getting:

1. When is it?

13th and 14th May 2017

2. Where is it?

At the image Lifestyle Center, Fordsburg in Johannesburg where the Jimmy Killer Prawns is also located.
Here is the Google maps for directions on how to get there!
Image lifestyle Venue click me!

3. What time does it start:

between 2-5pm

4.What is it about?

Founder and coordinator Abashiya Achilles who is also the designer and owner of the "Fabulous in Hijab" modest wear brand,  maintains that the Hijab fashion week is not a new concept.

London had already seen many years of the ever successful  London modest fashion week #LMFW.

Having been in contact with the organizers, Abashiya then embarked on introducing a Hijab fashion week in Cape Town,  South Africa, her home town.

I cannot wait to meet her! She has been an absolute pleasure to liaise with, and is truly a remarkable person. 

After 5 successful years of the HFWSA, in Cape Town,  with exceptional growth each year. It will now be launched in Johannesburg on the 13 and 14th May 2017, at the image Lifestyle center in Fordsburg, in conjunction with Crescent Lifestyle. 

While it may not be a new concept,  it is an entirely new platform for emerging local modest wear designers and an opportunity to cater to the large and wide demands of Hijab or modest wearing Muslims. 

The HFWSA is set to gather some of the best local design talent in the modest industry as well as the who's who in the blogosphere of modest bloggers.. all in one event over 2 days. 

Taking place just days before the Islamic month of Ramadan, it will be the Eid shoppers delight to get their hands on these unique designs for Eid, prior to Ramadan, so focus can be maintained on the more important aspects such as ibaadah (prayer), fasting and charity. 

Designers contact details will also be made available to those in attendance requiring custom garments or wishing to purchase the runway designs. 

Fashion designers to exhibit: all names are clickable links so just tap on it and you can see more about that designer! It will take you to their Instagram page...no worries if you'd like to get back to reading the rest of this post.. Simply close the Instagram window. Designers are creating new items just for the HFWSA! So below is just a teaser of what designers have offered or are currently offering. 

Fabulous in Hijab

By: Abashiya Achilles

Creates gorgeous, classy garments, with modern cuts and with close attention to detail and quality. Expect your Fabulous in Hijab pieces to withstand the test of time! She plays with prints, colours and textures, and her garments always have comfort at its core. Love this brand??

Stylexplora  (that's Me! InshaAllah!also
check out @shopstylexplora)
By: Waseema Reyazuddin /Abdool Khader

My Online Souk

By: sisters Sabeena and Jehan

Is your online store for one stop shopping for those gorgeous outfits from a number of local designers. They bridge the gap between fashionable Muslimahs who love to shop designer pieces and the designers themselves. Having spoken to one of the sisters, I can say without a doubt...you will love shopping with them.

Shop style snap

By: Nazmeera Jeewa

Every ounce a fashion forward stylist, I am a fan of her personal style and ethos. This brand retails modest garments with modern cuts! With an eye for detail, this brand understands the needs of modern day Muslimahs and offers tomorrow's styles today!

Red Ruby Abayas

I am excited to see what Red Ruby has in store for us!

Adore by Adila

Gorgeous selection of kimonos, Luxe robes and modest wear. She is not afraid to play with textures, colours and prints. Her feed is a feast for the savvy fashionistas eyes. Cannot wait to see the beautiful range she will send down the runway.

Demure by S

Hails as a contemporary modest wear brand. Their page is a shoppers delight with kimonos, dresses and more. Creative use of prints and mix of fabrics make this brand one to follow.

Ruhee Collection

A contemporary modestwear extraordinaire. Their collection is a feast of gorgeous kimonos, Abayas for both ladies and little ones, as well as draped and flowy dresses and seperates. Attention to detail is prominent, with striking modern prints, lace, embroidery and a mixture of patterns and solid colours.

Bloggers to attend and cover the event. 

Bloggers

Stylexplora (you are here! :)- Waseema Abdool Khader... Yes! I will also be blogging about the HFWSA.

Veiled Beauty- Raeesa Sadik

Accountant by profession with a propensity for creating killer outfit combos, brilliant product reviews and great flatlays! So much more to her!
We have been friends for years and are yet to meet each other... We hope to do so at the HFWSA InshaAllah! Can't wait!

Style unboxed- Raeesa Essop

A newbie lifestyle, beauty and fashion blogger with a beautiful Instagram feed. Her product and fashion reviews though would have you think she's been doing this for a while... She's a natural!

Modest Isle- Soraya McKenzie

A beautiful mommy blogger with incredible style! Her blog and Instagram feed are uplifting and inspirational. Can't wait to see her take on the HFWSA. 

Cannot wait to meet everyone I have mentioned above and especially you guys!

6. What else can I expect? 

Fashion Shows featuring collections of the designers above. Feast your eyes on ready to wear garments for Eid and occasions. Styling advice, including Hijab styling and lots more... Fun evening out for ladies only. Alot is underwraps...  because we aim to surprise! All I can say is,  Donot miss it! I really want to meet you guys..

7. How do I buy tickets? 

You can purchase tickets from here >>>>>Web tickets

Tickets are R150 per day,  so R150 for the 13th and R150 for the 14th...if you book for both days.. It's R300... 

8.What happens to the proceeds? 

This is a fundraising event and to showcase modest fashion designers. 

9. I would like to model for the HFWSA, what do I do? 

Email:waseema561@yahoo.com 

Or aiishconcepts@gmail.com

But do so quickly as the spaces are filling up....

We are looking for ladies of any race or religion, in two categories. 

Category A: 18-35yrs,  1.64m in height and taller,and sizes small-medium

Category B: over 35 years any size and preferably 1.64m in height or taller. 

In your email, include the following :

1. Name,  Surname, cell number

2. Age,  

3. height, 

4. size 

5. a little paragraph or two about yourself and what you do. Occupation etc. 

6. a pic of yourself close up and full length. 

If you are successful,  we will let you know and call you for castings.  All model training will be provided, no experience necessary!  Just confidence and happy thoughts:)

Thanks dolls...don't forget to subscribe to my blog to get more stylexploring delivered to your inbox! :) 

As you know from reading my previous post, I attended the #NWTS at Melrose Arch with my cousin Farhana for the first time this year. I always wanted to know what it felt like sitting at the front row at a spectacular fashion show�.and now, I get to share that with you.

I must confess, that my expectations were high but it was a fashion show for a �Great� cause�so I would have sat on the floor if I had to�but a girl can dream.

I imagined the front row with comfy seating, sparkling non-alcoholic beverages personally served by smartly dressed hostesses, complimentary chocolates�.......reasonable? no?....okay then.

We arrived about 30mins early at the venue, so we window shopped and got to take a closer look at d�cor.

Imagine the setting on one of Melrose Arches paved roads outside Edgars, the traffic lights just behind the start of the runway, a huge plastic bubble (UFO- looking) with a beautiful violinist clad in a striking red dress playing on passionately, oblivious to the barely filled venue.

 A long line of seating of gold painted cane chairs with white cushions in five rows on either side of the long road, which was to be the ramp, was laid with a red carpet. Camera and tripods everywhere, spot lighting, hostesses in �sheer� micro-mini dresses�(3 words I never put together for public dressing�"sheer" "micro-mini" and "dresses")

We took our seats, the show was about to begin and we didn�t want to miss a thing! The crowd was finally coming in about 2mins before the event�s start time.

We scanned the audience for any smartly clad fashionistas or otherwise hair-raising ones..not intentionally though�we eventually resorted to style analysis as the fashion show was "painfully" delayed by an hour as one of the celebrities didn�t arrive on time.

Painful? �well, the chairs seemed to be alright to seat my toddler for about 10mins, so for a grown women�hmmm�spacing was limited, think public transport�not UAE�South African taxi style�.we sat sideways (to avoid elbow stabbing or knocking out any �alcoholic� beverages� ).

Anyways,..lets get back to the fashion show shall we�?

The MC for the Fashion show was a party on his own�He definitely added humour, excitement, and fun to the evening drawing comparisons between Jhb and Cape Town hosted events, right down to model clich�s, live singing and introducing the sponsors, the violinist, celebs and designers with his own personal spunk.

A video recording acknowledging Hospice Wits efforts was played before we had two very skilled dancers ballet their way down the ramp.

The show then opened with intermingling between celebrities wearing the works of established well known South African Designers and Designers wearing the second hand clothing sold by Hospice Wits.

Celebrities included Bonang Matheba, Janez from Top Billing, Former Miss South Africas Tatum Keshwar, Claudia Henkel, Vanessa Carreira, Vuzu entertainment host Lalla Hirayama, Jenna Dover, Zuraida Jardine, Shashi Naidoo, Louise Carver, Penny Heyns�..to list just a few..

Fashion Designers included David Tlale, Loincloth and Ashes, Thula Sinde, Gert Johan, and many more�

I was particularly in love with the wedding gowns by Gert Johan and the long cape worn by Tatum Keshwar made by David Tlale. All designers brought amazing pieces to showcase and showed imaginative designs, mixed with practicality, with South African roots, it is clearly evident that South African designers are pushing the limits and staying true to their heritage. 

    

Bonang wearing a Gert Johan gown

Kerry McGregor

Vanessa Carreira

Claudia Henkel

Simba

Lalla Hirayama

Jenna Dover

David Tlale

Clive Rundle

Gert Johan and his masterpieces

Tatum Keshwar

The final �long walk to freedom� was to close the show with all of the celebs, and designers included, taking to the ramp.

All in all, a fantastic evening out, and for a good cause!�

Personally, I would have preferred if the alcoholic drinks were not allowed to be consumed during the fashion show for obvious Islamic reasons. Being seated next to those who don't show restraint was not at all pleasant (this is me being polite) , so lets hope they improve on that.

Oooh...what did I eventually wear???...just jeans, a tee and my favourite scarf...lol...perfect for the narrow seating, sometimes keeping it simple is the best way to go...:) 

At the end of the Fashion Show, Farhana on the left and Mwah on the right..I am wearing jeans I made, with Pierre Cardin nude pumps and a Truworths oversized Batwing top, watch out for my own winter range, blog on that soon:).

Don't forget to support Hospice Wits...every bit helps! Find a worthy cause and make a difference! 


Don't forget to follow me on Instagram...stylexplora...Thankyou and Jazak'Allah a ton for reading....:)