Fashion designer Gert-Johan Coetzee. Image via Instagram @gertjohancoetzee
Gert-Johan Coetzee: The designer Q&A session we’ve all been waiting for
‘Sometimes I come across as very serious, while I am actually quite friendly and bubbly,’ said Gert during our spicy Q&A session.
Fashion designer Gert-Johan Coetzee. Image via Instagram @gertjohancoetzee
We recently sat down with one of South Africa’s most celebrated designers Gert-Johan Coetzee. He shared with us what his hopes are for the future, where his favourite places in the world are, and who he would love to dress in the near future. Without further ado… here is the best GJC Q&A you will ever read!
1.Describe Gert in three words
“I would have to say passionate, glamorous, and reliable.”
2. What are people’s biggest misconceptions about you?
“I would have to say it is that I am not friendly, I think because I am so passionate about fashion and what I do sometimes I come across as very serious, wherein actual life I am quite friendly and bubbly and energetic.”
3. Which international/ local celebs have you designed outfits for? Who would you love to dress next?
“Locally I have done all the big stars, ranging from your Bonang Mathebas, Boity, Minnie Dlamini and Lira, Nadia Nakai, and internationally I have had the privilege of working with amazing women like Oprah Winfrey, Kelly Rowland, Fantasia and Kourtney Kardashian.
I would in the future love to dress Lizzo, I think she is such a fashionable moment and really celebrates diversity and I would love to do something there. In addition, I have always said that I would love to dress Charlize Theron.
Also Leslie Van Brant from Lucifer, I think she is such a gorgeous woman and as a South African, I think we need to start wearing more local designers.”
4. NY Fashion Week, London Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week have all taken place recently…what are the new fashion trends from the catwalk?
“I think one of the biggest colours for the year are purples and all shades of the tone, when it comes to the runway, there was a lot of bomber jackets, a lot of corsets and it was just really bringing back a bit of the 80s as well if you have seen the Dolce and Gabbana show.
My biggest advice about trends is that we shouldn’t follow them too much but rather use them as references to explore your own personal style and adapt a few of those subtle hints of a current trend.”
ALSO READ: Exclusive interview: Gert-Johan Coetzee launches diverse Barbie collection
5. What international city did you enjoy visiting most and why?
“Italy has always been one of my favourites, I love Italy and I think it is such a creative space, from the way people dress to the food, it is just magnificent.
I love spending time there and I always come back feeling super inspired. My next trip, however, must be somewhere in Africa, I would absolutely love to visit the Blue City in Morocco I think that on its own is such a moment.
I would also love to see Egypt.”
6 What was the inspiration behind your Barbie Loves Gert collection?
“When Barbie comes to Africa my aim is to give her a very warm South African welcome, so I drew inspiration from all cultures around Africa to really showcase what Barbie would look like when she comes to Africa.
One of the challenges was making sure that everyone feels represented in some way, Barbie’s style resonates diversity, and my own style aligns with the same sentiment so I think that’s what really brought us together so well, simply celebrating who you want to be and how you want to look like regardless of race, religion or gender or body shape. That is the main message of diversity Barbie and I wanted to bring across.”
7. When it comes to fashion pieces – less or more?
“I think more is always more. When it comes to my personal style and aesthetic, it is quite opulent and very glamorous.
I think there can never be enough Swarovski crystals on one dress, I once did a dress for miss universe and it had over 400 000 crystals on it and I absolutely loved it. It came together so chic and elegant, over the top but still very glamourous.”
8. It’s your round at the bar…what are you buying?
“Champagne, Champagne all the way, I am the biggest champagne lover in the world and I just love sampling and tasting different ones from around the world and their versions of it, so definitely any form of bubbles has my heart.”
9. Advice to upcoming designers?
You really must be very passionate and driven, I think you must be self-motivated, and as a designer that’s one of the traits I pride myself in, especially in the beginning, it is very hard and very demotivating and that is why you must have a solid support structure around you to pull that passionate out of the earth and put it into your career.”
ALSO READ: Smell of success: Gert-Johan Coetzee designs his own ‘couture’ fragrance
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