Image: Reze Bonna Photography

David Tlale is breaking all the conventional moulds of bridalwear.

Renowned for his knack for showmanship, SA’s most acclaimed fashion designer, David Tlale, unveiled his trailblazing bridal collection during the David Tlale weekend experience which was showcased this weekend at Boschendal Wine Estate.

“With The Weekend Experience we wanted to bring people closer to the David Tlale brand. Fashion week sees people come and go, each show is just another show, and that’s not who we are, we wanted people to get to know the brand, our aesthetic, our ethos and lifestyle,” says David Tlale.

Image: Reze Bonna Photography

On Sunday, the weekend culminated in an awe-inspiring showcase of 25 brides (and 7 grooms) breaking all the conventional moulds of what one expects from a bridal collection. Starting with looks in white, Tlale surprised guests with brides dressed in ivory, playful shades of plush pinks, hews of salmon, and bold prints.

As for textures, he played with soft lace edges combined with elements pf satin, twill, in-house created flowers and supported the South African aesthetic through the use of ostrich feathers, all culminating in sophisticated, red-carpet-worthy masterpieces.

“With our bridal collection, we want to say that we’re not only a fashion brand, we’re also a lifestyle. The inspiration behind this bridal collection was not only to make brides feel beautiful but also give them a slight edge of fashion on the day. Brides don’t have to simply look like princesses, they can bring their own sense of style on their big day,” says Tlale.

Finally, a David Tlale show will not be complete without a bold Grande Finale, this time stunning guests with a horse and carriage which drove the closing model to the runway and ultimately the designer himself to end the day on an all-time high.