Monday 28 May 2012

Frikkie Cool Creative: Elzanne LOuw


This weeks chosen Frikkie Cool Creative is one of our good friends, Elzanne Louw. A Pretoria local who now applies her trade in Cape Town. Elzanne runs her own clothing and accessory label from her studio in the mother city, called LO.
Elzanne started out in the big world by studying photography at T.U.T and completed her diploma in 2006. It was while studying that she fell in love with fashion photography. "To be honest I always spent more time on putting together outfits and making crazy props for shoots than I ever spent on taking and editing pictures."   When the opportunity presented itself  for her to study a second time, she grabbed it with both hands and begun studying fashion at U.J. Her intention was to get into the fashion magazine world. During her time at U.J, she became fascinated by pattern making and tailoring. It was somewhere between her compelling urge to make things by hand, her pattern classes and her part time job at Superella that the bug had bitten and the realization was made - "Hey, I can be a Fashion Designer! Why the Frik not?"
It all turned out to be a lot of hard work, but that is exactly what she did. Elzanne moved down to Cape Town at the end of 2010.   "By Jan 2011, with a lot of love and support from some amazing friends and family Lo was born."   The name LO is derived from Elzannes surname, LOuw.   "I like this little connection, it makes me feel close to my work and like it connects to my heritage."
LO primarily produces ladies clothing and accessories, everything is produced locally and designed by Elzanne personally. All the materials are locally sourced while she personally does all the patterns. All of LO's ranges are always limited which makes LO a very exclusive and must have brand! For example, the winter coats and jackets are both based on very classic shapes, they are beautifully hand made from fine quality materials in the rich colors of the season, which is a Navy and a deep Rust colour.
LO is targeted towards women of all ages who have an appreciation for classic lines and shapes combined with quality in textile and quirky details. Comfort and fit are also top priority!  

 "I am often inspired by craft, vintage trims and buttons ,textile, print, colour, Art and Photography. These days my photographic expressions are limited to my Instagram addiction which is actually a great source of inspiration."
 
For winter this year, LO features a limited range of hand knitted gloves and neck-warmers as well as a selection of fabulous layered skirts and dresses, long sleeve blouses and for those in between season days, LO has some easy to layer Sailor dresses and short sleeve shirts.
If you are in the Gauteng region, be sure to check out LO at the Neighbourgoods market in Braamfontein every Saturday morning. If you are in the Cape Town area you can catch LO this Saturday, 2 June, at The Treasury Market in Stellenbosch or you can now buy LO clothing online at Hello Pretty. You can also check out her website and Facebook page for more info!! We here at Frikke Awesome find everything LO does to be LOvely and beFRIK, and a must have fashion item in any ones wardrobe!!
Keep an eye out on the blog and the Facebook page for an awesome COMPETITION where you can win yourself a LO Clothing voucher. Details to follow.


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