“I think there is something for everyone in this collection. It’s a very fun and colourful range. Anyone who loves a bit of colour or loves to stand out from the crowd will adore the collection.” – Cyla Gonsolves
With the dawn of the digital age, fashionmongers are more enlightened than ever about the multidimensional world of vogue. And while they are presented with a burgeoning number of options, consumers always seek out innovation, good quality and most recently, sustainability when indulging in retail therapy. Leading-edge fashion designer Cyla Gonsolves aims to bridge the quality gap through her self-titled luxury womenswear brand’s groundbreaking collaboration with retail giant, Mr Price.
The inception of brand collaborations in the fashion industry dates back to the 1930s when Italian designer Elsa Schiaparelli joined forces with Spanish surrealist artist, Salvador Dalí to create the Lobster Dress. Since then, fashion collaborations have become exclusive, and highly anticipated with Mr Price and Cyla Gonsolves’ joint venture being the latest to dazzle Mzansi’s fashion landscape.
In our first interview with her last year, Cyla was fresh off her coronation as the South African Fashion Week (SAFW) “New Talent Search Competition” victor for her awe-inspiring collection dubbed “No Waste In Wonderland.” The award-winning collection included languid day dresses, cosy knits, basic blouses, and tulle bags inspired by flower petals. Cyla impressed the judges with her bright yellow garments which comprised a dash of psychedelic colours. When we asked about her collection with Mr Price, the designer didn’t want to give away too much but urged fashion enthusiasts to expect something fabulous and she was absolutely right.
Comprising whimsy, fun and contemporary designs, the Mr Price x Cyla Gonsolves collection has a voguish piece for everyone. We chat to the designer about the collection, its inspirations, and her plans for 2024.
Your range with Mr Price is very diverse, comprising various accessories, as well as clothes. What inspired the broad nature of the collection?
All the items for the collection were inspired by my SA Week runway collection. I took all the looks from my award-winning collection and designed a more ready-to-wear range to be sold in MR PRICE. You can see my runway elements coming through in the collection for example, the bralettes, the pressed flower prints, the paper bag detail on the pants, the tulle detail on the sleeves of the t-shirts and the tulle clutch bags that actually look identical to the runway clutches.
How was your experience in collaborating with Mr Price to unearth this limited-edition collection?
It was so much fun working with MR PRICE on this collection. The team I worked with was truly so talented and they had the same vision for my whimsical collection as me. Mr Price is a super cool retailer and had so much fun at the head office in Durban.
Fit and flare dress from the Mr Price x Cyla Gonsolves Range | SUPPLIED
There must have been a lot of work that went into designing the collection. What was your favourite part of the creative process?
This collection was one of my favourite collections to design this far. The design process is definitely my favourite part. Mr Price gave me the opportunity to go wild and design a collection of my choice. I also love the shooting part of the collection. We worked with an amazing photographer (Cass Collett ) and a very talented art director (Roxanne Robinson) who brought my collection to life.
What did you find most challenging about the creative process?
The most difficult part of creating a collection is the production part. Sometimes the design in your head comes out completely different when manufacturers sew it up. Sometimes it’s the fit that needs changing, or the fabric doesn’t work with a specific design. That’s why this is a very important part of the design process. It takes time to get the perfect sample.
There are many stylish pieces in the collection. What are some of your favourites from both the clothes and accessories?
My fave clothing pieces are the Press Flower Dress and the Pressed flower shorts and matching top. I love these pieces, they are super fun and girly. I also adore the doodle flower print bomber jacket. I think it is such a nice transeasonal piece to have in your wardrobe. My favourite accessory pieces have to be the tule clutch bags and high-top sandals. I think they are super trendy and bring the whole collection together.
AAAND the underwear is also so beautiful. I really love everything about this collection.
Who would you say the collection is made for?
I think there is something for everyone in this collection. This is a very fun and colourful range. Anyone who loves a bit of colour or loves to stand out from the crowd will adore this collection. But if you are more of a plain Jane, there are pieces that you can add to your wardrobe that can form part of your capsule collection like the stone wide-leg pants or the white paper bag shorts.
In your opinion as a designer, why is collaboration important in the fashion industry? Particularly between retailers and fashion designers.
This is a great opportunity for both the retailer and the designer. This is great exposure for the designer to collaborate with such a big retailer. From a marketing perspective, it is an amazing opportunity that doesn’t happen often to a young designer. And for the retailer, it’s also a great way to keep up with what is happening in the fashion industry locally. It gives them the opportunity to stand out from the rest of the retailers.
What can we expect from you and your fashion brand in 2024?
We will be opening the show at SA Week this year. We are very excited to showcase our new resort collection at the show. We have big plans for 2024 and can’t wait to share it with you soon. Keep your eyes on our social media to see what we have planned.
Click here to shop the Mr Price x Cyla Gonsolves Collection.
