When I look back on Cheryl Arthur's show from Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Cape Town 2013 last night, I remember moments of brilliance. Much like the designer herself, these moments are mercurial, hard to capture and isolate, but you are left with a sense that if you can just channel them, you have something pretty bloody special here.

It was very clear that this show was a catharsis. From the incredible screeching (in a good way) of emerging music artist Tailor, to the pounding soundtrack, smooched hair and make up of the slightly broken and deranged women that men love, this collection was a FULL ON rebirth of Cheryl Arthur. Casting off the shackles of her Hip Hop legacy, being reborn into a new, eponymous way of design, Cheryl threw everything she had at this ramp. Most of it was beautiful. Some of it was inspired. A few pieces were incredibly pretty. A few I could live without. It was all accessible. It was all simple and wearable for all of us ladies. And it was perfectly suited to a summer of individual expression.
But it needed a bit of editing. If we could just have captured those moments of brilliance we would have risen the rafters with our cheering.

What was definitely worth more than a good few cheers was the print design that was really the hero of the collection. From beautiful, romantic figurative and abstract print-scapes, to geometrics, organics and florals, the prints were completely unique and very beautiful. With textiles being such a problem for designers here in South Africa, this digital print approach is definitely the way to go for much shorter runs of incredible fabrications. She's a smart one, this one.

Cheryl Arthur has now put herself back out there. She is ready to move forward with a new season of her life, articulating it as she goes through the medium of her design. I have absolutely no doubt that as she slips back into her fashion stride, clearly focused on her vision, that this is the little summer dress or skirt we are all going to be wanting to wear. I can't wait to get my hands on a piece or two.
Photos courtesy of SDR Photo