Creating original, timeless, and elegant clothing is what sets apart Corné Coetzee. The South African designer launched his sustainable fashion brand in Mumbai, India, in 2019. Pioneering eco-friendly fashion, Corné Coetzee’s brand challenges customers to re-evaluate their relationship with clothes. “My ideal client,” says Corné, “is a thinking individual who would like to invest in a well-made, well-fitting, and beautifully constructed garment, that will stand the test of time.” A former HOD and lecturer at Raffles Design International, in Mumbai, Corné is informed by his extensive background in fashion from pattern making and grading, to designing couture and producing fashion shows. The award-winning women’s wear designer is passionate about creating simple, well-structured garments. “Design is engrained in me, it’s in my being, it’s in my bones,” says Corné, “I want to make high quality garments that look good, feel good, last well, and don’t damage the planet”. Corné Coetzee’s Women’s Wear designs are inspired by classic female shapes, as well as Old Hollywood glamour of the 1920's and 1930's. The Spring/Summer 2021 Collection consists of 22 chic elements including boatneck tops, form-fitting tea dresses, cool blouses, shirtdresses, knee length A-line dresses, jackets, kaftans and drawstring and palazzo pants. Corné Coetzee’s ready-to-wear line is available at the Corné Coetzee Atelier in Johannesburg, South Africa. “Couture should fit perfectly and make a woman feel exceptional,” says Corné, “the process of designing and creating a garment for a woman is a personal story. I’ve got to know where she is going and how I can make her feel fabulous”. Corné Coetzee makes bespoke couture gowns including bridal wear, occasion wear and evening gowns. He guides his client through the process from fabric selection to fitting. Corné is supremely proud of the workmanship produced by his dedicated staff. Fashion Designers do more than dress models. Good design can set trends, create experiences, and influence the world. The Corné Coetzee Academy of Design offers a range of short courses in both Fashion Design and Dressmaking. Former owner, lecturer and principal at the Gordon Flack Davison Academy of Design, Coetzee, is passionate about helping budding designers to unlock their creative potential. His innovative approach to education is based on 25 years of teaching at GFD and Raffles Design Institute. Corné focusses on hands-on training and uses a skills-focused approach in the classroom. His step-by-step instruction is delivered in workshops and short courses which focus on Grading, Pattern Making, Corsetry, Men's Wear, Evening Wear and Textiles. Fast fashion is a wasteful and environmentally unsustainable habit; however, alternatives are emerging. Customers are becoming increasingly aware of the damage caused by synthetic textiles, wasteful processes, and worker exploitation. The design challenge of the twenty first century is to embrace authentic, slow-made, local, sustainable, and environmentally conscious fashion. Many international fashion houses are finally embracing eco-friendly and socially responsible trends. Corné Coetzee Atelier is dedicated to upholding strict sustainability measures and avoiding cheap synthetic materials: “We reuse and repurpose textiles and embrace re-purposed cloth, deadstock, and fabric remnants.” His brand will appeal to a thinking and ethical consumer, a fashion forward individual who wants to support young South African designers and locally hand-made garments. Corné’s team are a skilled, creative, and dynamic team.