Credit: Visual supplied courtesy of Sanlam SA Fashion Week.
Photograph by Ivan Naude."I'm incredibly excited about this opportunity," says Nkhensani Nkosi, founder and creative director of the distinctly Afro-urban label. "I've always dreamt about having this kind of platform for Stoned Cherrie and it launches us directly onto a world stage."
The Arise/This Day: African Fashion Collective 2009 is the initiative of Nduka Obaigbena, This Day publisher and editor-in-chief of Arise magazine.
"Nduka Obaigbena is a visionary," says Jan Malan of Umzingeli Productions. "The timing is right for this show and we can expect more of these initiatives from him. I am only too honoured to be selected to produce this show and believe wholeheartedly in promoting a positive face of Africa to the international community."
According to Malan, Stoned Cherrie was selected to be part of the show as the brand is market ready, due to Nkosi's experience with Woolworths South Africa; an important consideration as she aims to make a viable commercial success of the opportunity.
Nkosi also has something distinct to bring to the mix of designers showing. "She will be the only South African designer and will bring a unique, yet very modern South African aesthetic to the show," adds Malan.
Three other Africans designers will show alongside Stoned Cherrie. Namely MOMO and Tiffany Amber from Nigeria, and Xuly Bet, the world-renowned Paris-based Malian.
Making it a truly African production, Dino Moran, the Mozambican music producer has been appointed musical director, and the Ghanian Kate Menson, M-Net Face of Africa 2008, will make her New York catwalk debut.
"It's a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase the amazing things happening in South Africa," continues Stoned Cherrie's Nkosi. "People continue to have a stereotypical view of Africa as the 'Dark Continent' and it will be great to challenge that."
![[WDC2014] Summary of the WDC Design Policy Conference's second day](https://biz-file.com/c/1410/234901-300x156.jpg)