Lee-Anne Stanton, advertising manager for Renault South Africa, said, "The 2014 SAFW Renault New Talent Search was highly-contested and we consider each of the other four finalists - Angelo Sebastian, Oh! Deer, Revelation Fashion and Jenevieve Lyons - to be winners in their own right." However, "Wake's creativity and talent undoubtedly earned them the number one spot here tonight."
"Our Autumn/Winter '15 Collection was inspired by animal hide and skin, re-exploring the primitive human nature, reworked into a modern context. Challenged to find a 'new point of view' through SA Fashion Week Renault New Talent Search, we looked back to where it all started (prehistoric) but also where it could possibly progress to (post-apocalyptic)," explained Burger.
"Inspired and intrigued by skin, the ever-changing organ that encompasses us was translated through the collection. The hides we used were responsibly sourced, reworked and hand-stitched and the neck pieces that completed the collection were carved and shaped from tree roots.
"It has been inspiring to rub shoulders with many of South Africa's fashion icons, such as Lucilla Booysens and Dion Chang, in collaboration with Renault, something that has never been within our reach. Working closely with these two brands going forward is a great privilege and will contribute to us taking Wake to another level.
"Our feet haven't quite touched the ground since the win, but we intend to capitalize on the buzz around the brand. We need to keep the interest around Wake alive and make sure we stay relevant in order to take our brand to the next level," said Burger.
"It has been a privilege to see Wake and their peers in action during the creative process and we have watched as their designs on paper have morphed into the inspiring and beautiful reality you have seen on the catwalk," continued Stanton.
"There is, however, much more to the competition than simply a good portfolio. Fashion is a business like any other and a key criterion for each of the finalists was to provide the judging panel with a strategy on how they intended to build their brand."
