A rare gold haute couture collection by celebrated South African flower
designer mesmerises fashion gurus. 

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, (AUGUST 29, 2008) REUTERS - 
South African fashion designers mesmerised fashion gurus with their
summer collections at the opening of the Sanlam South Africa Fashion Week on
Wednesday (August 27). 
    Fashion industry stalwart and accomplished show producer, Lucilla
Booyzen's broad contact to the international designer journey had led her to
believe that the newly democratic South Africa, emerging from the stifling
confines of a siege state and buzzing with optimism, creativity and a restored
international status, was ready to unleash its relatively untapped, designer
talent.
    A rare gold haute couture piece from the international gold collection
by celebrated flower garments designers Franz Gräbe and Coenie Hatting were
breathtaking. The collection fused art, jewellery, fashion and flower design
to create a unique line.
    "It challenged us on different levels so the whole collection
turned out to be far more about form, shape, silhouette, construction etc. and
not just floral, floral, floral like we usually do," said designer Franz
Gräbe. 
    The collection was made up of 16 delicate organic dresses which
illustrated the relationship between the fragile beauty of organic materials
and the immortal majesty of gold -- creating an extraordinary tension and
energy for the catwalk.