Celebrated designer Shaldon Kopman is set to captivate the fashion world once again with his latest collection, Urban Camo, at South African Fashion Week (SAFW).
SAFW is scheduled for April 24 to 26, for the Spring/Summer 2025 collections. The event will be held at The Forum in Hyde Park.
Following the acclaim of his previous Afro Monks collection, Kopman's new offering promises to be an impactful meditation on the principles of slow fashion, reinforcing the ethos and narrative that have become hallmarks of his brand, Naked Ape.
Since its inception in 2005, Naked Ape has consistently championed authentic African luxury, intertwining heritage, sustainability and craftsmanship.
With Urban Camo, Kopman deepens this commitment, creating garments that not only echo the urgent need to reassess the wastefulness prevalent in fast fashion but also embody the soul and intentionality rooted in respect for nature.
“Each piece in Urban Camo carries the DNA of our land. It's fashion made with the earth, not just inspired by it," said Kopman.
"In a world awash with fast fashion, an industry that contributes to over 10% of global carbon emissions and fills South African landfills with imported, discarded garments, Urban Camo stands as a quiet rebellion. It reminds us that clothing can be more than a product.
"It can be a story. It can be a memory. It can be a return to values that are slower, deeper and more meaningful," he said.
A standout feature of Urban Camo is its innovative collaboration with botanical artist Ira Bekker, known as The Botanical Nomad.
Bekker utilised local leaves, branches and rusted metal objects, to produce bespoke fabrics in an intricate process that involves wrapping, steaming and cooking in pots.
This meticulous method allowed for the organic extraction of pigments, resulting in ghostly patterns and rich earthy tones imprinted onto materials such as raw silk, linen, hemp and cotton.
The collection will showcase a spectrum where organic elements blend seamlessly with architectural shapes.
In terms of aesthetics, a formal statement explained that Urban Camo beautifully marries form and material.
"Signature Naked Ape silhouettes are revisited, sharp tailoring is balanced with the fluidity of natural fabrics, trousers exhibit structure yet permit movement, while outerwear strikes a commanding but effortless note.
"The colour palette, drawn from the natural world, features soothing bark browns, oxidised greys, leafy greens and sun-washed earth tones. Each garment, whether a raw silk jacket patterned with leaf silhouettes or a hemp coat dyed with iron-rich plant tannins, is a wearable piece of art that carries the spirit of place and process.
"This is camouflage reimagined, more about harmony with nature than concealment. It’s a reflection of how we blend into and connect with our environments, how fabric, skin and the surroundings can exist in unity."
"At a time when the fashion world is reckoning with its environmental impact and searching for authenticity, Urban Camo offer more than a collection. It’s an invitation to see fabric as something grown, nurtured and deeply lived in, rather than merely worn," said Kopman.
Urban Camo will debut on the runway at South African Fashion Week on Friday, April 25.