Fashion wars

"Good artists borrow,

 great artist steal."

_Pablo Picasso

Fashion Weeks are always full of drama, although we might not get to witness the drama, but behind the scenes; cat fights, sabotage and sometimes a bit of coke and I 'm not talking about Coca-cola. . .if you know what I mean mamasitas and papasitas. 


Recently the South African Fashion Week hosted renowned and fresh grad (graduates) designers. Khensani Nkosi of Stoned Cherrie fame showed a mid length frill, woven skirt similar to the one shown by Thula Sindi another respected and known designer.


Thula Sindi show cased his red frill, mid length skirt with lightweight nylon taffeta material in the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Jo'berg (mouthful . . .) 


After people alerted him of the similarities Thula Sindi was reported by Mail&Guardian to have said he was very surprised to see the skirt, which is remarkably similar to mine in patter, details and proportion, walking down the runway. 


Certain editors and blogger immediately alerted him to the glaring similarities. He said the skirt was brought into light in February 2011.


Khensani responded to the allagations. She said "We had designed a box waist skirt before for an Amsterdam-based exhibition in Cape Town called Salon/locade in February 2011, which Harry Lekwane, one of our designers, had conceptualised before the exhibition.


What both designers agree on is when the skirt was brought into light but who show cased it first. . . That is where both power houses disagree.

Thula Sindi at the 

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Jo berg 

Top: Thula Sindi's red Frill Skirt

Bottom: Khensani Nkosi Stoned Cherrie frill skirt 

Khensani Nkosi-Stoned Cherrie at the

 South Africa Fashion Week 

Pablo Picasso perhaps said it best when he commented on the creative sharing of ideas when he reportedly said, "Good artists borrow, great artist steal."

So you be the judge. . .