Roman & Royds

~ a collective launching a fashion label ~

Roman Handt and Fiona Royds hosted the launch of their collaboration at the TOTO Gallery in Birdhaven on May 4, 2011.

The collaboration of Roman & Royds was born out of the experimental notion of launching a fashion label effectively using an entirely different approach comprising different marketing mediums benefitting more than just the fashion genre: essentially leveraging different mediums such as art, music and film to cohesively bring a brand to life.

The collaboration looks to pull art, film and fashion together to find ways to reach broader audiences outside of the normal parameters of fashion. The idea is to launch the label in a gallery space showcasing a mindscape of the clothes through film, photography and art as well as having the clothes themselves on display.

Roman Handt’s passion for life is uncontained, constantly looking for unusual and enticing ways to express his trade and translate his ardor into ways that others can relish.

No stranger to South African fashion, discerning fans will know him from his work as founder and designer of both Future Shock Collective in 2009 and tailored range Noir in 2010. Roman’s passion for tailoring was fine tuned during a number of years spent in Belgium where he worked for Naai Atelier Greet Vanhove in Antwerp crafting high end apparel for the likes of Gucci, Chanel, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Paula Ka, Sonia Rykiel and Ventilo.

With the success of two labels behind him, and having shown his work on various platforms such as SAFW and African Fashion Week, the inspiration for Roman & Royds came about when considering the real effectiveness of the channels through which South African fashion brands are launched. Roman began to question the value of the catwalk in isolation, and the thought of a multimedia platform began to take form.

Fiona Royds, acclaimed fashion photographer and renowned for her unusual eye and precision technique who came on board to provide the medium of art to launch the label. Fiona’s documentation of the label, simply named Roman Handt, looks to exploit the dark, sensual and dreamy mood of the range which will then be showcased at launch event at the In Toto Gallery on the 4th May.

The range itself exploits luxurious fabrics caressing the lines of the human form and whilst being unisex, the focus is predominantly on male pieces.

Taking the project one step further down the rabbit hole, the collaboration has also brought some top of the range film industry gurus on board to document the entire multimedia process of “building a brand in a collective”. The entire process throughout the project has been carefully documented and will be packaged, documentary style and then passed on to interested parties as a brand success showcase or educational documentary for fashion, film and art students heralding a new way, a different way, a collective.

~ In Collaboration ~~
Roman Handt – Fashion Designer
Fiona Royds – Photographer

IN TOTO Gallery
Leksa Menzies – Stylist
Riaan Hulley – Assistant Stylist
Glow – Photography Equipment
Minette Mansfield – Hair Stylist
Liz van der Merwe – Makeup Artist
Louise Smart – Prop Manufacturing
Jono Wood – Photography Assistant
George Rabe – Photography Assistant
Gert van Niekerk – Ubiquite Producer
Johan van Tonder – Project Management
Leon Kriel – Camera Director of Photography
Leonard Breytenbach – Executive Producer
Kimberleigh Starke – Talent Placement
Exclusive Drycleaners – Range Care
Michiel Matee – Camera Assistant
Rewald Drinkwater – Food Stylist
Jacques Michau – Gallery Owner
Le Chatelat – Shoot Location
Louis van Niekerk – Actor
Heleni Handt – Producer
Fabio de Cosmo – Music
Kaz McFadden – Actor
Elmarie Swart – PR
Genea Frade – PR

Ross Berber
Stanley Okoh
Courtney Anne Fraser

STAR MODEL MANAGEMENT:
Kirsty McKenzie
Chiano Sky Kruger
Oliver Hay
Herman Moshikare

ICE MODEL MANAGEMENT:
Hollie Holmes
Marcel van der Merwe

STEELE MODELS:
Ayanda

LAMPOST:
Chelsea Blakemore

BRUMILDA VAN RENSBURG:
Henque Heymans
Tyrone Nell

RANDBURG HIGH SCHOOL:
Naret Loets
Riaan Harmse
Johan Swanevelder

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