The Cultured Traveller 17

More documents

Recommendations

Info

148 The Cultured Traveller Jun-Jul 2017
What was the pivotal moment when you decided that the fashion industry was to be your future and you basically went for it? When people wanted to buy my pieces and were willing to pay the prices I was asking. I was hell bent on not being a struggling designer and was serious about my transition to the fashion industry. Luckily I also started being featured in lots of media. Which part of the garment production process do you most enjoy? I like the actual design part coupled with the construction process. What would you say sets you apart from other international designers at your level? Our studio is very labour intensive when it comes to hand finishing and embellishing so we effectively own all of these processes in house. Basically we still do things the old school way in our atelier. I equate luxury to hand finishing or making something by hand – this lends an emotional connection to the garments. We are able to do this because we have a highly skilled work force and the rand is weaker against foreign currency so we are competitive in the extreme. What was the first notable fashion achievement that set you on the extraordinary journey of success you are on today? Being asked to show during Couture Fashion Week in Paris by Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture - the French trade association of high fashion. Whilst daunting I suddenly realised that this was ‘it’. Tell us about the Gavin Rajah woman and how wearing one of your creations makes her feel? I like to think that she ‘wears’ the garments and not the other way around. I love women who feel empowered wearing clothes without compromising on their femininity. How do you source fabrics and what are your favourite types to work with? We often have fabrics made for us. I love having custom made embroidered fabrics made for our collections. I simply adore silk, embroidery and beading. Visiting which country or continent provides you with the most creative stimulation and ideas for new collections? All travel is inspiring for me. Terrain, people, culture, literature and art inspire me. I love Europe and Asia since they have such rich, diverse cultural legacies to draw inspiration from. When designing a bespoke gown for a client, which part of the process takes the most time and care to get just right? Understanding the client’s goal and in what context she will be wearing the garment. We always try to bring something of the client’s style and/or personality into a bespoke garment. Tell us about meeting Nelson Mandela. I had the privilege to work with him on some of the work of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and have always been involved in his fundraising activities. He was an inspiring man, very visionary and was a great mentor. Who has been the most fun and professional supermodel you’ve worked with? Most definitely Naomi Campbell. She has a wicked sense of humour and is always up for a challenge. She is also one of the most compassionate and caring people I know. What would you say are the essential elements of the Gavin Rajah brand’s DNA? Femininity, craftsmanship and pure unadulterated luxury. What is the most lavish or extravagant gown you’ve ever designed and for whom? Probably a wedding dress for a client. We sourced fabrics from Europe and it took over 8 months of embroidery to create the finished product. We do not mention our clients – couture is a world shrouded in secrecy I have learnt. Will you ever design menswear? I have but it’s not our core focus. It requires a whole new atelier and there are simply not enough hours in the day for me at present. Please tell us about your work for the past decade as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. My work with UNICEF is about raising the profile of children’s causes. In particular I focus on violence against children, child sex abuse and child trafficking. These are not the popular poster causes that people want to see or confront. Somehow it makes people uncomfortable. I choose to champion crusades against these social evils. Over the last decade I have worked to initiate #endviolence campaigns in South Africa, including raising funds to build
Page 1:
ISSUE 17 JUN-JUL 2017 ROTTERDAM CAR
Page 4 and 5:
http://www.fourseasons.com/bogota/
Page 6 and 7:
CONTENTS 44 74 10 18 12 94 8 EDITOR
Page 8 and 9:
EDITOR’S LETTER When I was young
Page 10 and 11:
WIN A TWO-NIG JABAL VILLA AT A PRIZ
Page 12 and 13:
FESTIVAL OF SAINT-DENIS FRANCE This
Page 14 and 15:
MONTREAL INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVA
Page 17 and 18:
COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL U.S.A. The
Page 19 and 20:
Rest Your Head SEYCHELLES, VENICE,
Page 21 and 22:
Jun-Jul 2017 The Cultured Traveller
Page 23 and 24:
VENICE, ITALY CHARMING HOUSE Venice
Page 25 and 26:
oom sits upon exposed steel pillars
Page 27 and 28:
The Ultimate Mountain Villa Retreat
Page 29 and 30:
PLACENCIA, BELIZE ITZ’ANA RESORT
Page 31 and 32:
TOKYO, JAPAN MANDARIN ORIENTAL TOKY
Page 33 and 34:
Jun-Jul 2017 The Cultured Traveller
Page 35 and 36:
SOMETIMES, REALITY IS BETTER THAN I
Page 37 and 38:
SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL PALÁCIO TANGAR
Page 39 and 40:
SEMINYAK, BALI KATAMAMA Katamama is
Page 41 and 42:
NEW YORK, U.S.A. THE WHITBY Firmdal
Page 43 and 44:
MALDIVES SONEVA JANI It’s really
Page 45 and 46:
DAWN GIBSON EXPLORES HOLLAND’S AR
Page 47 and 48:
“Dotted with some of the most hea
Page 49 and 50:
SUMMER CARNIVAL CENTRAL STATION EUR
Page 51 and 52:
through the clouds just as I am ret
Page 53 and 54:
MARKTHAL alternative cultural centr
Page 55 and 56:
“Walk the streets or jump on a wa
Page 58 and 59:
58 The Cultured Traveller Jun-Jul 2
Page 60 and 61:
SEE MUSEUM BOIJMANS VAN BEUNINGEN I
Page 62:
affectionately known, is located at
Page 65 and 66:
PARKHEUVEL There is also an outdoor
Page 67 and 68:
JOELIA POFFERTJES excellent glass o
Page 69 and 70:
BALLROOM THE VIP ROOM
Page 71 and 72:
MAYFAIR CHIC M E E T S EAST LONDON
Page 73 and 74:
MARGREETH OLSTHOORN MEENT Jutting o
Page 75 and 76:
Presidential Suite The Saxon, Johan
Page 77 and 78:
and Desmond Tutu as well as countle
Page 79:
coffee tables littered the bedroom
Page 82 and 83:
HOTEL GRANDE BRETAGNE HOLDALL It wo
Page 84 and 85:
LA ROCHE-POSAY WATER SPRAY 50ML You
Page 86 and 87:
No Shoes Required AT QASR AL SARAB
Page 88 and 89:
88 The Cultured Traveller Apr-May 2
Page 90 and 91:
Qasr Al Sarab courtyard. The motif
Page 92 and 93:
dripping and skin crackling - whils
Page 94 and 95:
Until visiting Colombia for the fir
Page 96 and 97:
96 The Cultured Traveller Jun-Jul 2
Page 98 and 99: A maze of cobbled alleys, ornate bo
Page 100 and 101: www.sophiahotel.com.co In an elegan
Page 102 and 103: AGUA DE MAR GETSEMANÍ linger here
Page 104: 104 The Cultured Traveller Jun-Jul
Page 108: Alquímico The city’s Palenquera
Page 112 and 113: 112 The Cultured Traveller Jun-Jul
Page 114 and 115: ANGKOR NIGHT MARKET ANGKOR WAT CAMB
Page 116 and 117: TERRACE OF THE ELEPHANTS ANGKOR THO
Page 118: the side entrances. As we walked th
Page 122: TA TE & S SIP REVIEW INDIAN ACCENT
Page 125 and 126: Almost every five-star hotel in Del
Page 128 and 129: order à la carte, the six course-t
Page 131 and 132: TA TE & S SIP NEWCOMER TATEL MIAMI
Page 133 and 134: Jun-Jul 2017 The Cultured Traveller
Page 139: Jun-Jul 2017 The Cultured Traveller
Page 142 and 143: Center for Elephant Conservation in
Page 145 and 146: GLOBETROTTER GAVIN RAJAH SINCE LAUN
Page 147: Jun-Jul 2017 The Cultured Traveller
Page 152: Your most memorable vacations to da
Page 155: MARGREETH OLSTHOORN www.shop.margre
show all

The Cultured Traveller 17

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?