19 Aug BLVCKELEMENT – Avante Garde Denim

BLVCKELEMENT is a denim brand that identifies with “daring individuals who are about innovation and incorporating high-end Avant-Garde fashion into everyday wear.”

The denim brand has designs in both male and female lines, promoting street apparel and fashion forwardness that pushes the boundaries of the status quo. The BLVCKELEMENT brand stands for sophistication and mystery – experimenting with denim in a variety of ways.

Established in 2016, BLVCKELEMENT was founded by visual artist, Sipho Allen Zwane. Born and raised in Johannesburg, the designer’s signature-style has rapidly grown a following among those seeking a ready-to-wear collection with a difference. The design philosophy embodies a love for creativity and irreverence towards established rules.

BLVCKELEMENT founder, Sipho Zwane

The newest range from Zwane’s atelier is titled “Kuthathu”, meaning ‘three’ in isiZulu. The spring/summer collection is inspired by gender fluidity and aims to create clothing that caters to more than one gender and individuals who are gender non-conforming. Each garment is created using a two or three-toned aesthetic, to represent the feminine, masculine and non-binary.

There are outfits within the collection that have the addition of text within the fabric, and which aims to provoke society’s notions about gender while challenging gender boundaries. One of the intentions behind these current designs is to emphasise and honour our rights to self-expression.

Kuthathu shoot creative team: