Jayn Aeron's AFI Joburg Fashion Week Takeover - Trends and highlights

As a fashion enthusiast, fashion week season is my absolute favourite time of the year. For this reason, I love all the fashion content from fashion weeks in Namibia and across Africa that grace my social media timelines during this time. I particularly LOVED my dear friend and fashion fairy Jayn Aeron's recent takeover of Johannesburg Fashion Week. Jayn did what they do best: serving us world-class looks as a guest at the biggest fashion event in our neighbouring country. The best part is how they rocked straight off the MTC Windhoek Fashion Week runway.

I recently chatted with Jayn about their experience attending this event, their favourite collections and overall thoughts on the event.

Can you share your overall experience at Johannesburg Fashion Week?

My overall experience was top-tier. The Africa Fashion International (AFI) team that invited me ensured that I had an immaculate experience. I lacked nothing! In all honesty, I was treated like a celebrity. I felt seen and respected and that I had a seat at the table.

Which designers stood out to you the most? Were there any emerging talents that caught your eye?

One of the designers that stole my heart was Malondie. She had a vibrant and colourful Spring Summer Collection with accents of swimwear. Her storytelling, use of colours and casting of the

- pure bliss! It felt like she made the garments for the models specifically, judging by their personality and how they sold it on the runway. One can see a lot of work thought went into it.

The cherry on the cake for me was the amount of Queer models she used.

Other designers I loved were Masango by Sihle and the AFI prive collections - a collaboration with the Huawei Smart Watch GT4 Sheer elegance. The use of fabric in each piece was sublime. If you paid close attention (which I did), you would see how the interface from these watches inspired the colours of the collection as well as the functionality of the clothes. It was giving high-end corporate chic, with each model sporting a watch that fit the colour scheme of what they were wearing.

Which trends or themes you observed at Johannesburg Fashion Week do you believe will significantly impact the Namibian fashion scene?

Oh, most definitely! One of these trends I picked up is the use of colour - especially purple and green [both primary and pastel accents of these colours]. Another trend was knitwear and the use of pearls in clothes, accessories and makeup. Seeing knitwear used as a street-style staple was also refreshing.

In terms of makeup and beauty, a trend that dominated the runway was the skin-like finish. The models' skin looked fresh and veiled with just the right product. I'm happy that the no-makeup makeup look is making a comeback, and it's quite practical for fashion shows.

Another thing that I noticed was the use of blush as a contour. It's a great technique which captures well on both film and still shots.

Fashion events can be a sensory overload with a lot to see and experience. How do you navigate and absorb everything presented at fashion weeks?

Coming from the tiny fashion scene in Namibia, it's refreshing to see so many designers across the continent use their culture or daily lives as inspiration for their collections. To narrow down my favourite collections, I usually consider the following:

• Storytelling: I look at the song choice for the runway show and the sequence of how the garments come out, including the makeup artistry and hairstyling.

• Retail appeal: I love to look at the craftsmanship, how well-finished the garments are, plus the creativity. As a stylist, these things influence my decision to source an outfit or purchase it for my clients.

• Cohesiveness: This is the foundation of a collection. It includes the use of materials, innovation and how well-executed the garments are.

Which memorable moments or encounters added a special touch to your experience at the event?

It will have to be shutting down the red carpet each day of the event. I made sure to look good and memorable. I also got to network with the who's who of the South African fashion and beauty industry and met the likes of Miss South Africa, Natasha Joubert, local fashion buyers, stylists and makeup artists.

How do you foresee this event contributing to the cultural exchange and collaboration within the African fashion community?

It contributes a great deal of authenticity and storytelling through the African lens. It also amplifies artists' voices, contributing to the overall growth of the creative industry. I've been attending AFI Johannesburg Fashion Week for a while now. The magnitude of change and growth in the event and participants has been heartwarming to witness. It makes me question how I can help Namibia to be part of this conversation. This is why I always wear Namibian designers when I attend - I promise you, these looks get noticed.

Follow Jayn Aeron's fashion journey on Instagram @jayn_aeron.