Klûk CGDT: Awards, Trips and One Stunning Kimono (Or Two)

I woke up this morning to some wonderful news. The boys at Klûk CGDT were justly rewarded for their design work. At last. You see, girls and boys, it's a long story. There are many awards handed out in our industry. But to date, Malcolm Klûk and Christian Gabriel du Toit who make up Klûk CGDT, have not really been at the top of the prize list.
In South Africa, fashion awards are complicated and political affairs, where issues of national identity sometimes overlap with race. You know how it is. If you are black, you get patronised and if you are white, well, are you really African? A load of old cobblers, but it exists. And sometimes it detracts from the assessment of design quality, creativity and craftsmanship when it comes to handing out awards to those who deserve it.
But the fact that Malcolm and Christian produce six beautiful collections a year, are the most stylish red carpet designers in the country (probably on the continent) and have a dedicated and sophisticated clientele, has now been properly rewarded. In Nigeria. At the 2011 ARISE Magazine Fashion Week Awards. Where they won the prestigious Designer of the Year award, as well as the top prize of a lifetime achievement award - and they were selected to show at New York Fashion Week as part of the African showcase. I am really jolly chuffed for them today. Justly deserved.
Oh, and just look at these Kimonos that they showed as part of their collection. I am OB-SESSED. The black will be mine. 
All images courtesy of SDR Photo