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The Women, the Wisdom and the secret Wardrobe

10/1/2017

2 Comments

 
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Artscape's wardrobe of glittering costumes is one of Cape Town's best kept secrets. Or it was until Saturday when Gabeba Isaacs spilled the beans - at a WOMAN ZONE Story Cafe in her honour!
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In conversation with journalist Theresa Smith she explained the inner workings of how these wonderful, sometimes weird outfits are made.
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She talked about basic pattern blocks, darts and toiles - the language of a costumier.
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....about bodices, baubles, brocade and built-in sweat pads....and the duvet sized petticoat that makes the The Queen of Hearts frock fulsome....
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.....about the fabric buyer, the curtain cloth and cutting sequinned cloth by the metre for Tina Turner's sexy shift....
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And in the audience were two of her gurus - mentors Eva Parsons and Penny Simpson....
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...who joined in conversations about the unavailability of good fabrcs these days and how you have to improvise with patchworked leather outfits for Troillus and Andronicus.....
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....and the stories of the designs and designers are legion....Gabeba's archive file is thick with examples....
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Turns out the talented Gabeba - who retires next month after nearly forty years in the wardrobe wonderland, is able to turn her hand to other things....like matric dresses....
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So the other doyenne Wardrobe Women with all their wisdom were persuaded to come and share.....
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....and answer questions from the audience....
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...until it was time to say thank you....with flowers for the rare blooms of the wardrobe world....
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....meanwhile, all this time, Khayelitsha Yo-yo Queens. Jennipher and Angelina had been using the time wisely - stitching as they listened....
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Just time for a photo-op to record the event.....
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...and pay tribute to all the fabulous women keeping sewing alive - most especially to Gabeba and we wish her well in the next chapter of her life which, we hope, will include passing on her skills. Watch this space!
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....then finally time to pack away all the wonders of the wardrobe back into their secret space. And just fyi, the wardrobe archive is the size of two rugby fields!!
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....last but not least, time to say thank you to Ambre Nicholson and Theresa Smith for getting this very special Woman Zone honouring STORY CAFE together. xx
2 Comments
Ena McIntyre
10/2/2017 07:38:03 am

An amazing, most inspiring story - thanks a million for sharing

Reply
Nancy link
10/2/2017 11:57:52 pm

Ah Ena - thank you, it was indeed inspiring! nx

Reply



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  • Home
  • About
    • Vision
    • The WZ Team
    • Background
    • Projects >
      • Artscape Womens Humanity Walk
      • The Everywoman Project
      • Women's Walks
  • The Women's Library
  • Book Club
    • About
    • Book Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Contact