Although she hails from South Africa, these days calls the Fraser Valley home. And now the self-taught artist is using her experiences getting from there to here as inspiration for her latest project, Explore the Journey, a clothing line she鈥檚 showing at this year鈥檚 (VFW).
Art, at its core, is the creative representation of a person鈥檚 experiences or imagination in whatever manner they decide to express themselves. Yet, as of late, Basson has chosen haute couture as the medium through which she artistically expresses her emotions and stories.
鈥淚t鈥檚 all for my art,鈥� said Basson. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a way I can expose my art to the world. The people who wear my stuff do really love it, and it makes them feel good, confident, and comfortable as well.鈥�
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| Anelia Basson's original clothing designs--which feature her artwork as the fabric's design--will appear on the runway at Vancouver Fashion Week, the second largest fashion week in North America, this year. (Photo by Sean Dalin) |
However, although Basson has expressed herself creatively through a variety of different materials, canvas, sculpting, canine coats, table cloths, and now clothing, she says each item she鈥檚 created has been bursting with colour.
鈥淐olour is very important to me,鈥� said Basson. 鈥淚 grew up in (South Africa), a country with (some of) the poorest people in the world, and colour is so important to them. Colours make you feel happy!
鈥淚鈥檓 not a person for black and white,鈥� continued Basson. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a reason why the most beautiful animals in the world鈥攖he birds, the fish, et cetera鈥攁re all very colourful, so why can鈥檛 we be, you know?鈥�
Starting with more typical art forms, Basson explains how, several years ago, she got the idea to do more than simply put paint to a canvas.
鈥淚n about 2014 I started using my art and photography to make pillows, fabrics, and dog jackets. Then I branched out from that to doing skirts and tops, and started doing dresses, and just recently started with the swimwear line.鈥�
Using her art as the pattern, Basson creates eco-friendly fabrics that are then cut and sewn into the designs she鈥檚 created.
And while she recognizes that 鈥渢he fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters in the world,鈥� Basson says it鈥檚 for that reason that she has her items manufactured in Canada, which also helps support our local economy.
As for her pieces, Basson says her 鈥渄resses are very flowing and each one tells a story. (They鈥檙e) more a piece of art. I want to give people the freedom of colours and the opportunity to wear a really unique piece of art.鈥�
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And while this may be Basson鈥檚 first time showing her wears on a stage as large as VFW鈥檚, it鈥檚 not the first time she鈥檚 strolled down the catwalk.
鈥淚n the past, I just had a few small fashion shows in Chilliwack (that I hosted) by myself. (But) it was a dream for me to maybe one day show my work on the runway,鈥� Basson said.
And sometimes dreams come true.
After noticing her work on Instagram, the powers that be behind Vancouver鈥檚 Fashion Week contacted Basson and invited her to show her work at this year鈥檚 event.
鈥淚 said, 鈥極f course!鈥� and feel very honoured,鈥� said the 56-year-old artist, who鈥檚 now excited about the possibility of international exposure.
Running from Sept. 17 to 23, VFW is going into its 17th year, and is not only the fastest growing fashion week in the world, but has also grown to be the second largest in North America. And Basson鈥檚 going to have nearly two dozen pieces to show off.
鈥淚 have a big selection, like 20 pieces in Vancouver Fashion Week,鈥� Basson explained.
In addition to item selection, Basson says she also gets to control how her pieces are presented to the public, ensuring her artistic vision is complete: 鈥淚 picked the music, I picked the clothes 鈥� (I鈥檓 even) taking four of my girls with me (as models).鈥�
For more information on Anelia Basson, or to view examples of her work, please visit her website at , or her account. For more information about Vancouver Fashion Week, visit their website at .
Sarah.Gawdin@theprogress.com
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