The brief for the designers this year was to capture the unique contrasts that shape our lives and wardrobes and the venue gave symbolism to the theme as it is a confluence of two worlds: the rural and the metropolitan.

Black Coffee's win was well deserved. Their approach to fashion and design has always been unconventional and inspiring. They used natural fabrics like silk chiffon, cotton, cotton mesh and spandex brilliantly for this collection. And their play with bold colours like purple, bright yellow, red and a milder beige was fantastic. The drama in their clothes is always stitched with subtlety and care.

Bubble dresses are still trendy. But their take on it was interesting. They made bubble dresses out of chiffon - difficult material to work with because it's so sensitive. They pulled it off with sophistication.

The winner in the Young Designer category was John Sithole for Earthquake. His creativity in the making of his denim-inspired garments was apparent in little details like stitching an All Star Sneaker material on to a dress. But the wearabilty of his clothes can be questioned.

Highlights of the night included Craig Native's funky street wear. He was paying tribute to Zola Budd and this was seen in the prints of a taxi and Zola's face on most of his collection.

Colleen Eitzen's mix of indigenous African materials with a Western touch was grand. Ere Hart from Nigeria reinterpreted traditional wear by adding glitter, colour and glamour to the materials we've come to know from West Africa. Hers was new generation stuff.

Fashion in South Africa is taking the lead and the rest of Africa is starting to follow suit.