Deon Angelo Brings ‘Shades of Darkness’ to Coast

“[It’s] called Shades of Darkness. It’s the latest collection under the luxury high-end brand ‘Deonangelo’. The pieces are inspired by the Nama-Herero genocide and pay homage to my Herero roots from my father,” says the budding creative, who has been known to showcase traditional Namibian attire with a more modern twist to it, often mixing textures, fabrics and patterns and pumping out unique pieces that are practically wearable art.

“In this collection, I tell stories through fashion, specifically about generational trauma and the [1904 Herero-Nama] genocide,” he explains.

This new line is made up of pieces in the colours, white, black and grey/silver. It includes evening wear, elegant gowns, pantsuits for women and even the Herero headdress (otjikaeva) for a modern take on a classic style.

To bring his vision to life, the designer worked with four former Miss Namibia crown holders Odile Gertze, Selma Kamanya, Barbara Kahatjipara and Lizelle Esterhuizen. They were photographed by Jonas Nakale.

The four women truly brought the line to life with their diverse takes on each of the styles and fits, showing us different ways that women can embrace elegance, grace and poise.

This line breaks many barriers, and can clearly be worn by an array of women. According to Mathias, the ‘Shades of Darkness’ collection has been in the pipeline since the passing of his father in 2016.

“It was a form of healing, expression as well as releasing for me,” he says.

“Unfortunately, I couldn’t release the collection for years, as I was facing a battle with my fashion school over intellectual rights of my collection,” he says.

Eventually, he was victorious in securing the pieces that he did, he says.

Mathias studied for some time at the Haute Future Fashion Academy in Milan, Italy.

“We were finally able to get rights over the collection last year, as well as some of the pieces. This story is so dear to me because I had something so precious taken away from me , just like the land of my ancestors. As artists, we tend to create with our emotions and connect to our art so much that we feel part of it. When something like that is taken away from you it can strip away your dignity,” he expressed.

‘Shades of Darkness’ is a sharp contrast to the work we have seen Mathias put out in the past. His usually harlequin and dynamic patterns paired with abstract shapes and fits have been replaced with fine lines, a monochromatic use of colours and markings and a more sleek and sophisticated fit.

After closing off the recently held MTC Windhoek Fashion Week with an off-site Sunday runway event (as he always does), Mathias promises something vibrant, exciting and new that would focus on promoting creatives and the youth through design.

Asked why he felt it was important for this monumental time in Windhoek’s fashion to expand to other towns, he says.

“The focus right now should be decentralisation and creating creative spaces in other areas of Namibia. We have so many attractions out there waiting to be discovered,” he says.

So, on Saturday, 26 November, Mathias will have a private launch at the Atlantic Garden Boutique Hotel to showcase his work, and speak about why looking to the past is an important part of preserving Namibian culture through art and fashion.

– Anne Hambuda is a poet, writer, YouTuber and social commentator from Windhoek. Email her at annehambuda@gmail.com or follow her online for more.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.