In a celebration intertwining fashion, culture, and sustainability, Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel in Cape Town, is poised to host the third annual Confections x Collections (CxC) event this November.
The event will not only spotlight the continent’s most talented fashion designers but will also coincide with the hotel’s 125th anniversary, reaffirming its status as the contemporary heart of Cape Town.
The CxC will transform Mount Nelson’s elegant lounge, terrace, and gardens into a vibrant space for salon-style fashion shows.
This highly regarded platform provides a unique opportunity to engage intimately with the designers and their works, all while being hosted in a venue with a rich history of welcoming iconic fashion figures.
“With the growing global interest in young African talent, I am excited to bring together South Africa’s new wave of designers with two of our West African counterparts,” says Jackie May, founder and editor of Twyg, the show’s independent curators.
“At its core, CxC is underpinned by excellence in sustainable design and a diversity of fashion storytelling, and we aim to honour and celebrate these enduring qualities this November.”
Spanning from November 5 to 9, 2024, the event will feature a dazzling lineup of designers, with each day dedicated to a single designer, ensuring an intimate and engaging experience for attendees.
Guests will discover innovative collections from talented South African designers such as Lukhanyo Mdingi, known for blending artisanal craft with modernity, and Rich Mnisi, whose work is renowned for its bold expression of Tsonga culture.
They will be joined by West African luminaries, including Bubu Ogisi of Iamisigo, celebrated as a ‘fibre artist’ for her wearable art that brings ancient African textile techniques to life, and Adeju Thompson of Lagos Space Programme, whose designs explore sartorial expressions of Yoruba culture.
This year’s showcase promises not only to elevate African narratives within fashion but also to offer delightful culinary experiences.
A beloved tradition at Mount Nelson, guests will be treated to a reimagined Afternoon Tea crafted by Executive Sous Chef Vicky Gurovich.
Chef Vicky will create bespoke confections that mirror each designer's collection, accompanied by a specially curated tea blend celebrating the hotel’s 125th anniversary, harmoniously blending local flavours such as rooibos, honeybush, and mesquite.
The final evening of CxC will draw upon the heritage of Mount Nelson, showcasing a collective fashion presentation involving both current and previous designers who have graced the CxC stage.
“In celebrating 125 years of The Nellie, this showcase is just one of many ways Mount Nelson is committed to curating moments of reverie through art, food, and design, drawing inspiration from the continent,” remarks Tiago Moraes Sarmento, Managing Director of Belmond Southern Africa.