JULY 2018
club
Club member exclusive
EDGARS CLUB MAGAZINE JULY 2018 EDGARSCLUB.CO.ZA
MOVIE TICKETS FOR LESS
GERTJOHAN COETZEE
ON PROJECT RUNWAY SA & DRESSING CELEBS
THE OCCASIONS ISSUE
GOLD ACCESSORIES, SHIMMERING MAKE-UP & PARTY LOOKS
L I V E C E L E B R IT Y
s fa hion LIVING FOR
Gert-Johan Coetzee has grown an empire and become one of South Africa’s most beloved designers. It’s being named as mentor on Project Runway SA, though, that makes him want to pinch himself when he wakes up in the mornings. By Edwain Steenkamp
A
t six-years-old, Gert-Johan was taking sewing classes when his mother noticed his talent and potential for fashion design. She knew that he would one day excel. After being home schooled, he attended the North West School of Design, where he graduated in 2005. While studying, he was spotted by presenter Sandy Ngema, who he went on to dress for events and television. There has been no slowing down since, having dressed local stars like Terry Pheto and Lira, and international celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian and Kelly Rowland.
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P R OJ E C T R U N WAY SA Catch Gert and the 12 aspiring designers on Mzansi Magic on DStv channel 161.
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L I V E C E L E B R IT Y WHEN DID YOUR LOVE OF FASHION START?
I’ve been a fashion designer for as long as I can remember. At school I would make little dresses and outfits out of tissue paper, and eventually I graduated to making clothes for my sister’s dolls – the poor dolls became my victims! I’ve always loved the glamour and drama of fashion; beautiful women in beautiful gowns and that was what attracted me to the industry. WAS IT SOMETHING YOU ALWAYS KNEW YOU WANTED TO DO?
By the time I was 16 I already had my own business, and had won every major competition that I entered. Eventually my parents decided to take me out of school so that I could study fashion. I knew it was what I had to do, and I’m just so lucky that my family also saw that and supported me in the way that they did. WERE THERE MOMENTS WHEN YOU DOUBTED YOUR PATH?
I always knew that this was what I was meant to do. I had no other back up plan. That being said, I gave myself a deadline. I said to myself that if I haven’t made a success out of fashion by the time I’m 30, then I would rethink things. Luckily I’ve never had to do that. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY HAS BEEN YOUR DEFINING KEY TO SUCCESS?
I met my husband when I was 16, and we built this fashion brand from the ground up. I’ve learned that a successful business is dependent on your support structures. Additionally, believe and trust in your decisions, and things will fall into place. ARE YOU A FIRM BELIEVER IN FATE?
Definitely. I am also a huge believer in positive thinking and the law of attraction, and saying words of affirmation to oneself. EDGARS CLUB JULY 2018
PHOTOGRAPHY: NICKBOULTONPHOTOGRAPHY
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I said to myself that if I haven’t made a success out of fashion by the time I’m 30, then I would rethink things. Luckily I’ve never had to do that AT TIMES, IS IT A CHALLENGE TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM OF SUCCESS GOING?
I don’t want any regrets. I don’t want to come to the end of my life and regret the things I should have done. I want to be able to say that I lived a full life. I want to say that I worked hard and had fun while doing it. So yes, there are days when it’s very difficult to find the motivation to keep working as hard as I do, but because I do what I do out of love and not ego, I am able to keep going. FAME IS AN INEVITABLE PART OF SUCCESS IN THIS INDUSTRY. DOES IT ADD PRESSURE TO YOUR JOB?
I think every aspiring fashion designer dreams of being famous one day. But I never anticipated that, in some ways, fame can make a job more difficult, just as it can also make it easier. When you’re in the public eye, it’s even more important to carry yourself with honesty and integrity so that you can set a good example to people looking to follow in your footsteps. WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE BIGGEST STAND-OUT MOMENTS OF YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
Honestly, there have been so many. Dressing Lupita Nyong’o, the Kardashians and Fantasia Barrino… these were all huge
moments in my career. In fact, every major client has been a cause for celebration. And of course, being a part of Project Runway is a surreal experience; I never dreamed that I would be asked to be a mentor on a show like this. IT MUST HAVE BEEN AN INCREDIBLE FEELING WHEN NDALO MEDIA AND PROJECT RUNWAY APPROACHED YOU?
Absolutely! I still wake up in the morning with a huge sense of gratitude – and disbelief! And you know, this has all been in the pipeline for a while now, but I never allowed myself to get too excited. I think a part of me thought it was too good to be true. And then the next thing I knew, I was preparing for the official photoshoot; that’s when I realised it was really happening. Since then things have been busy, but so amazing. IS IT DIFFICULT TO FIND MOMENTS OF PEACE BETWEEN EVERYTHING YOU’RE BUSY WITH?
It’s easy to lose touch with yourself when things get crazy. I meditate at least twice a day. I think that’s what keeps me sane. I also do what I like to call a ‘rampage of appreciation’ at the end of the day, when I reflect on all of the great moments of that day, and take the time to appreciate them. It’s easy to just roll with the punches and never stop to really acknowledge some of the beautiful things happening in your life. AND WHEN YOU HAVE TIME TO YOURSELF...
I love spending it with friends and family. I am passionate about travelling to interesting and exotic destinations. I also exercise a lot, and try to live a healthy lifestyle. I go to Crossfit four times a week; it’s really important that I fit this into my busy schedule.
Quick
Q&A Quiet night in or big night out? Big night out Books or movies? Audiobooks Who do you call the most? My mom Always on your bedside table? My phone, I always have to be connected Most precious thing? My animals Favourite accessory? Definitely sunglasses Guilty pleasure? Binge-watching series Favourite takeout? Nachos Favourite drink? Champagne, always Ultimate style icons? Madonna and RuPaul On your bucket list? To see the Northern Lights Favourite place in SA? Phantom Forest in Knysna Favourite places abroad? Mauritius to relax, New York for fashion
FOUR TIMES A WEEK!
I’m addicted. And once you get started – I promise – it’s something you won’t be able to stop. EDGARSCLUB.CO.ZA