Refreshingly, he doesn't give a pussy bow about communicating a unique South African fashion design language. There is no such thing. Some designers may have patriotic elements of South African culture in their clothing, but design is about thought and thought is universal, just like our influences. I'm as influenced by music from Japan as I am by a South African milk tart. West swears he is not a fashion designer.
Fashion designers follow trends.
I make clothing. But swan about any art exhibition opening in Cape Town and you'll find David West fashion devotees. I don't like that much - like a man's solid houndstooth suit made from tracksuit material. It's something Barend de Wet would wear. I'd far rather dress him than Madonna.