Fashion meets fossils: Marianne Fassler’s sediba-inspired collection

July 13, 2010

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Marianne Fassler’s fashion show, “Viva the Evolution”, was inspired by the Australopithecus sediba fossils

By Camilla Bath

The worlds of paleoanthropology and fashion seldom collide; it’s even more rare for them to do so against the backdrop of the world’s greatest sporting event. But collide they did during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, thanks to local designing doyenne Marianne Fassler.

Fassler’s latest show (her first in around two years), at AFI Fashion Week on July 1, was aptly named “Viva the Evolution”. She says she was inspired by the fossils of what’s been touted as a new species of hominid, Australopithecus sediba. The first set of the sediba fossils was unveiled at Maropeng earlier this year. The remains of a young boy went on show here directly after the world was introduced to the find, made by Wits University’s Professor Lee Berger and his team of scientists. Those of an older female, possibly the youth’s mother, were on display in the Maropeng Exhibition for the duration of the World Cup (and at the time of Fassler’s show).

Last month, the designer told the Times Live website that she had been stirred into action by “the historical significance of the Australopithecus sediba find and its coincidence with the world’s football fans arriving on our shores, who are in a sense coming home to where it all began.”

Fassler’s floaty collection was full of layers, contrasting fabrics, bright colours and bold animal prints. Hairdos of all shapes and sizes were sported on the runway. The show’s 45 outfits were designed to reflect Africa and the origins of humankind – both in the way they were made and in the way they came across.

“Undoubtedly, the global gathering of people coming together for the FIFA World Cup™ and the renewed patriotism in our land all have an influence on what I’m doing. And, of course, we can’t forget that man was made in South Africa, so the show in a way is about coming home, about mining our roots.”

Days after her show, Fassler was recognised at the Africa Fashion Awards, winning the Most Outstanding Fashion Contribution award.

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