The #ProjectScouted Shoelaced Clothing fashion show sets the trend at The Factory Café

Fashion may change daily, but Shoelaced Clothing has proven that style is eternal. The Shoelaced Clothing fashion show, a highlight in the #ProjectScouted calendar, took place on Saturday night at The Factory Café in Glenwood and pulled out all the stops once again to show that Durban is not falling behind in any way.

Ryan Francis, designer of the label, was the man of the evening as all his dedication and hard work came to fruition as the stunning #ProjectScouted ladies walked the range, specially designed for them, and captivated the huge audience that turned up for the show. Before the show, amidst the madness of hair, makeup, and rehearsals, one would never have said that this relaxed guy with his easy smile was busy preparing for a major showcase. “There's no stress, hey. We've all put in a lot of hard work but it’s all worth it. I know it’s going to be an awesome show!” he said. And it certainly was.

The Factory Café is one of those few Durban spots that manage to transition from a chilled daytime hangout to a metropolitan night time hotspot. Having chosen the venue for its uniquely urban atmosphere, Ryan also wanted to honour one of the great artists who had marked the space with his work. He said, “The café having one of Pastelheart's pieces here definitely played a role in us choosing the venue. He was a historic Durban artist.” Shoelaced Clothing is also the first label to host a fashion show at The Factory Café and having now set the standard, it will not be the last.

With his inspiration for the line stemming from the Black Fashion movement, Ryan focussed his attention on the dramatic and the striking in his pieces. The breathtaking makeup, done by the talented budding artists, and some established graduates, of Make-up theCollege, was futuristic and on trend as seen at the recent Tokyo Fashion Week. Ryan's designs paired with gorgeous custom-made Becca Blair bags accessorizing the girls' looks, these elements put together created an edgy, daring and magnetic line-up. The special surprise appearance of the Brissett Twins, ambassadors of the Shoelaced brand, also created quite the stir and added a new dimension to show. An even bigger surprise, one that no doubt did not get noticed by many, was the front row visit from the only Durban based judge in project; Shelley Ferreira. Shelley used the opportunity to get a closer look at the top 20 before helping to decide which 1- move on. 

Owner of the college, the lovely Jacqui Bannerman also stopped by to show her support to her girls and to offer a little advice here and there, “This is the best kind of practical work our students can do. Being at a show like this exposes them to the working world of make-up and that's why we're so enthusiastic about being involved in the Project again this year”, she said.

With Just Green, our Project DJ, and Ryan Rockwell on the decks; the Firmin Twins, two of our scouts and also uber talented musicians serenading the audience; and the fantastic services of Cathy Vere owner of Hedgehog Party Services enhancing the venue with her professional and perceptive touch; this was a night to remember. Mithesh of Sound Solutions supplying the Sound and lighting that provided that professional finish rounded up a night to remember. The skilled videographers Mdumisi Nxele, Robbie Muller, and Brittany Hurrell were also there capturing the hype of the day that ran from a 10AM call-time for the Project ladies and crew to 11PM when the party ended. And, of course, our awesome photographers – Roy Esterhuysen, Simphiwe Mkhwanazi, Jerome Stoffels, Nilufer Yucel, Dalton Green, and Zaheera Engar – were all over the show getting you those behind-the-scenes shots.

Nothing is impossible when the right mixture of elements is combined. The Shoelaced Clothing fashion show is testament to that. It’s going to be extremely difficult for our judges to eliminate 10 of these lovely ladies, but this is where the best are separated from the good. But having reached here, these girls now have an experience of a lifetime already along with beautiful images to recall every moment by.

Behind the scenes images used here are from Roy Esterhuysen. More images can be seen on his facebook page and also the facebook page of Simphiwe Mkhwanazi. 

The first video done by Mdumisi of MEL Media & Productions can be seen here: https://vimeo.com/125405325 

Surprise, surprise! #ProjectScouted introduces the wildcard entry

Something that has never been done in a Lee Folkard Photography Project before is going to shake things up immensely this year in Cycle 2 of #ProjectScouted. For the first time, there will be a chance for one of the eliminated girls to re-enter the Project as a “wildcard” entry and have another chance to prove her mettle. Ryan Francis, owner of Shoelaced Clothing, and an integral part in choosing the wildcard entry, tells us more about the process below.

Lee Folkard Photography: This is something completely different for the Project. Why was the wildcard entry introduced?
Ryan Francis: The "wildcard" entry was introduced to give an opportunity to one girl to re-enter the Project. However, it's not just an ordinary call-back to take part in the Project again. It’s a special call-back at the most exciting time of the Project (even if I say so myself!), which is the Shoelaced Clothing fashion show. In my past experience in #ProjectScouted, sometimes girls have an "off day" and don't get to truly show their true and full potential. So this year we will change that. This year the girl that stayed involved in the Project once she was eliminated could stand a chance to be called back to give it a second try.

LFP: How many girls will be selected?
Ryan: Only one girl will be selected!

LFP: What do girls have to do in order to stand a chance of being selected as the wildcard entry?
Ryan: Like, Comment, Share!!! The girl that stays the most active on social media, helping to promote #ProjectScouted will be chosen as the wildcard entry. By all means, even attend upcoming phases.

LFP: Who will be choosing the wildcard entry and how will the girls be judged?
Ryan: I, as designer of Shoelaced Clothing, will be keeping a close eye on all girls that have been eliminated from the Project while keeping the above criteria in mind.

LFP: When will the fashion show take place?
Ryan: Phase Six – Saturday, 18^th April 2015

LFP: Whet the girls' appetite a bit... What do you have planned for the fashion show this year?
Ryan: Hahaha! Well, the girls this year will be sharing the ramp with two amazingly talented professional male models and brand ambassadors of Shoelaced Clothing.

LFP: Any final pieces of advice for the girls or last words about the wildcard entry?
Ryan: Fight for it because it’s worth it! Shoelaced Clothing is a young, unique clothing brand that is all about empowering and supporting local talent. And being a part of this amazing movement is priceless.

Well girls, there is no reason to lose hope! By following Ryan’s advice, your #ProjectScouted journey can continue even after you may think it is over. We wish all the stunning young ladies the best!

Lee Folkard Photography’s enigmatic blogger, Sholene Ramdass, the guest judge for Phase Four of #ProjectScouted

Sholene Ramdass might be an elusive freelance writer, but she has still had substantial experience in the spotlight and time in front of the camera having come from a beauty pageant and photographic modelling background. The face (and hands) behind much of the Lee Folkard Photography blog, Sholene will now play a vital part in choosing the 15 girls of the 25 who will go through to Phase Five based on the images captured at the Fashion Extravaganza featuring the designs of Ryan Francis of Shoelaced Clothing. Sholene was also a part of the Top 10 in 2012’s Project Exposure, and although this Project was structured differently, she has a pretty good idea of what the #ProjectScouted girls have to bring to the competition. This humble Durban-girl has her heart set on penning some great literary works in the future, and we got to know her a little better.

Lee Folkard Photography: Who is Sholene Ramdass?

Sholene: I'm a simple girl living life from one experience to the next. Currently a Creative Writing and Literature student, I'm also a freelance writer. I find solace in all things art, creative, and beautiful; whether it’s a photograph, a film, or even people going about their lives every day. Naturally as a writer, I'm a lover of stories and although I may not say much, I am always listening to the world around me. I think I’m full of contradictions too; I’m introverted and extroverted, I love being behind the scenes but also a part of the action, I go to fashion shows with girl friends and car exhibitions with my brother and help my dad with DIY at home. I’m a chameleon. I’m still discovering the answer to this question everyday but there’s much more to me than a description. I've been called an enigma once or twice, so I wouldn't be able to sum myself up anyway. But I think you get the picture.

LFP: What inspired you to choose your qualification and to be a writer?
Sholene: No matter what I may have tried my hand at; I have always had a great passion for language and literature. I am, and have always been, unashamedly, the girl reading a book or the girl wanting to go to the theatre or film festivals. In this way, I've grown into myself; I've always had different tastes and interests. Public speaking is another passion I have which also involves using words to evoke emotion in your listeners and having excelled at this over the years, especially at high school, I found that having a command of the English language is crucial in more ways than one can imagine. I'm still finding my way as a writer but being a writer is who I am and whichever career I choose to pursue, writing will be the focus. I’m insatiably curious about life and the world around me; I'm always jotting things down and when I'm typing on my phone, I'm more likely making a note of something than texting. For me, the written word is emotion. Literature is man’s memory.

LFP: What are some of the misconceptions about being a writer?

Sholene: A lot of people think that it’s easy – you just sit at your computer and type away. But the depth, thought, and planning that goes into writing any piece of worth and quality is profound. When it comes to short stories, poetry, novels and any other piece that involves the creation of characters, especially, a writer has to create a world with people who have emotions, histories, and personalities through words. This is extremely difficult to do if one desires to write with substance and meaning. Being a writer requires extreme perseverance and patience; two qualities I am still trying to master.

LFP: What inspires you?

Sholene: Life inspires me. So often, I find myself in complete awe of the world and the life around me. There’s beauty and intricacy everywhere; in people, nature, art. I’m inspired by good writing, a good film, a memory, a conversation; everything that I experience is a source for creativity. I’m in love with life – the good and the bad of it – and all the emotions that come with it. There’s unfathomable beauty and depth everywhere, all we have to do is be open to it.

LFP: What will you be looking for when judging the girls on their images from the Fashion Extravaganza?

Sholene: Being Lee Folkard Photography's blogger, I've been involved in the Project from the beginning and have had the chance to meet some of the girls and be at the photoshoots. So I feel like I have gotten the chance to know them a little. I’d like to see that they have become a bit more comfortable in front of the camera and that they aren’t being generic. Being a successful model is about having an x-factor and that's what I'll be looking for. Also coming from a beauty pageant background, I know the importance of a strong ramp presence and walk that translates to great images – which will be another factor I will consider. Unattractive girls don't exist; I believe a good photograph comes from personality, character and daring to be yourself.

Some of Sholene’s pieces can be read on the Lee Folkard Photography blog; her writing perhaps giving a deeper insight through her thoughts and ideas into who she is. She will draw from her exposure to different fields and avenues during the Phase Four judging process along with Lee Folkard, Samantha Duckworth and Jerome Stoffels. Don’t forget to keep checking the Facebook page and the blog to see who the crème of the crop is.

Shoelaced Clothing by Ryan Francis – An official sponsor of #ProjectScouted

Shoelaced Clothing has been a loyal and favourite sponsor for Lee Folkard Photography's Projects. This year he also happens to feature as a scout in #ProjectScouted. Headed and owned by Ryan Francis; a husband and father of three kids, Shoelaced Clothing is a fresh, edgy and daring brand. Ryan is always at the top of his game and this home-grown Durban boy is bringing that A-game to #ProjectScouted this year.

 Here's our Q&A session with the designer:

Lee Folkard Photography: What was your inspiration to become a designer and how did you start off?

Ryan: I have always had a great love and passion for designing and wanted to be a part of the fashion industry from a very young age. I've always loved expressing who I am and my personality through designing and creating clothing. I later found that by doing this I was also inspiring other people to be creative and unique too. So I decided to launch my own brand in 2011, Shoelaced Clothing, which has grown amazingly over the last few years.

LFP: How did you become involved in Project Scouted and what motivated you to be a part of it?

Ryan: The concept behind Project Scouted is one I live for, something I believe in and try to live by everyday through Shoelaced Clothing – and that is taking art to the next level. I believe that everybody has that special something about them but not all of us are brave enough to show it. Not all of us are willing to take the chance or the risk to go out and get what we love or do what we love. So I try to be that person that helps others by inspiring them to unlock that potential through my designing. I try to show people that no matter who you are or what your circumstances are, you can achieve your goals. I'm a passionate person that believes that if you don't try you will never know. So that's why I'm a part of a Lee Folkard Photography Project for the second time; because I believe in it.

LFP: Which designer's work do you admire or inspires you and why?

Ryan: I don't really have a favourite; I just love all designers and all creative, passionate people that love doing what they do.

LFP: What is the average day like for you?

Ryan: Coffee, coffee, coffee, meetings, meetings, coffee. And then designing after the sun goes down.

LFP: As a designer, what do you think about only certain looks and body types being portrayed as attractive in the media?

Ryan: I think it’s pretty ridiculous that the media portrays that you have to have a certain look to be attractive. For me it’s simple; fashion is an expression of personality which is something that everybody has and is different from the next person. So express yourself the way you want to, where you want to, and in whatever way you want to, no matter how big or small you think you are. It’s important to be proud of who you are. You may just inspire someone else to do the same!

LFP: If you were a drink, what drink would you be and why?
Ryan: Jack Daniels - with lime & ice. It’s smooth, like me!

Ryan and Shoelaced Clothing made their mark on the project as they hosted Phase Four with a fashion show at SMG Rocks. Those that were there would know that it was a memorable one. 

Images from the show can be seen at: 
Firsthouse Photography
Nilufer Yucel Photography
Street Pulse Photography

P.S. For anyone who hasn’t figured it out yet, Ryan is the one always ‘clowning around’.