Kluk cgdt
CULTURE & MUSIC
Fashion Editor
Julia Muller
Photographed by
Alek
THE KLÛK CGDT BRAND IS WELL KNOWN FOR THE SOPHISTICATION IN DESIGN AND FABRICATION AND THEIR UNCOMPROMISING STANDARDS IN SERVICE AND QUALITY. THEY PRODUCE 6 COLLECTIONS A YEAR, WHICH THEY SELL THROUGH THEIR BOUTIQUES IN JHB, CAPE TOWN AND NOW PRETORIA AS WELL AS TRUNKSHOWS ACROSS AFRICA. THEY ARE EQUALLY WELL KNOWN FOR THEIR BRIDAL AND COUTURE GOWNS BOTH LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY AND HAVE WON AWARDS FOR THEIR “RED CARPET STYLE”. SPECIAL CONSIDERATION IS TAKEN FOR EACH BRIDE INDIVIDUALLY. “ BRIDALWEAR IS NOT LIKE FASHION, IT REPRESENTS A DREAM WITH A LIFETIME OF EXPECTATIONS, AND THIS IS WHAT WE STRIVE TO FULFIL”
Photography Alek. Styling Julia Müller @ eeagency. Grooming Suaad Jeppie. Model W @ (Fusion models). Production Julie van Damme.
Malcolm Kluk and Christiaan Gabriël Du Toit are the creative force behind KLûK CGDT. For Malcolm and Christiaan their label represents the culmination of two designers’ passion and the vision of bringing South Africans an international experience of fashion. It is immediately evident to anyone that careful consideration has been given to each garment; from the fabric selection, to the cut of the garment and to the finishes of each piece. It is this careful consideration and attention to detail that distinguishes their clothes as luxury garments
Both designers are South African born: Malcolm completed his education in England (he studied at St. Martins College in London and did his apprenticeship under John Galliano); Christiaan grew up in Worcester in the Western Cape and studied design at the Cape Technikon Fashion School.
Malcolm returned to South Africa to forecast trends & design for various South African labels as well as a long stint as fashion editor for Cosmopolitan magazine before opening his own lifestyle studio in De Waterkant, Cape Town. This studio followed the design principles of style, sophistication & quality (“the true marks of a contemporary identity”) and set new standards for fashion shopping. Malcolm has been mentored on design projects by Phillipe Starck, Jimmy Choo, and American Vogue’s Hamish Bowles. Has been a board member of the CT fashion council and has been nominated for Fair lady fashion awards twice as a young designer and twice as an established brand. Christiaan has been awarded “Most Promising Designer” whilst at Cape Technikon in 2001. He has also been awarded prizes at the Nederburg Collections in 2001 and 2002 and was nominated for the Fairlady Fashion Awards in 2005.
Malcolm and Christiaan have worked together since 2003 and have formed a dynamic and evolving partnership. Their brand is not only about clothes, but rather life and a holistic experiential, boundary-blurring approach to Style. Their collaboration represents the pinnacle of their separate creative processes and each designer brings specialised expertise and unique visions to the partnership.
KLûK CGDT have Participated in
New York Fashion Week, Russian Fashion Week, Swedish Fashion Week, Singapore Fashion Week (opening gala dinner). Arise Fashion Week Lagos and shown in Delhi and Mumbai and Paris by invitation. Also South African Fashion Week, Cape Town Fashion Week, JHB Fashion Week, Durban Fashion Week, Durban Designer Collections, Nederburg Designer collections, Fairlady Fashion Awards, Positive Rocks for SA Hospice who they continually align themselves together with the Children’s Hospital Trust.
KLûK CGDT Awards
They have been awarded with a Lifetime Achievement Award and African Designer of the Year 2011 and 2012 at Africa Fashion Week Lagos, the “Most Stylish Designers” at the SA Style awards, “Best Red Carpet Designers” at the Africa Fashion Awards and “Best Red Carpet designers “ by Marie Claire Magazine Prix de Excellence
KLûK CGDT in the MediaThey have appeared in international magazines like American Vogue, Elle, French Elle, Harpers Bazaar, Spruce, I-D and Dazed. Wallpaper and Monocle magazine have selected “KLûK CGDT” as the only fashion brand in their Capetown city guide
KLûK CGDT Other Projects
Other projects include, a limited edition collection for Galaxy jewellers, a designer pocket pack for Canderel a caddy for Lipton Tea, promotional clothing for Toyota and a new corporate wardrobe for Santam. They won an international competition to design cups and saucers for Carte Noir coffee in Europe as well as various art directing jobs and corporate events. Visa International has chosen “KLûK CGDT” as a preferred fashion vendor and Blackberry has chosen them as brand ambassadors.
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