Although you ladies mightn’t be able to smell the subtle scent that infuses all Petticoats’ fashion creations, you will be able to place orders and take sneak peaks at upcoming collections online. With creative elements created by local design studio Room13 and constructed by digital agency, Quicksites, the much-anticipated website clocked an order in the first half hour of going live on 11 July, to coincide with Nokia Cape Town Fashion Week. According to Francois Botha, one half of the inspiration behind Quicksites, the first order placed was for a pair of lady’s pumps!
Quicksites, which specializes in creating professional websites at affordable prices through the use of pre-designed websites, says that South Africans are becoming increasingly web-savvy. “Great web design should neither be a burden nor expensive. The Internet creates another channel to market and all companies, regardless of size, should consider having an online presence. It’s a digital age in which we live. With our template driven approach to web design, Quicksites provides the perfect opportunity for small enterprises and entrepreneurs to have a customizable and affordable home on the worldwide web. Although a purchase in half an hour, for shoes of all things, is a personal best that isn’t always the case. It does show us though, that the Internet can work for you if properly implemented.” Point your web browser to http://www.quicksites.co.za/ to find out more about Francois Botha & Dirk Wilson’s company or visit http://www.petticoat.co.za/ to place an order for a pair of pumps!
A little something about Petticoat
There's a delightful story behind the conception of South African fashion label, Petticoat. It all began when Cape Town designer Suzannah Garland was living in New York, doing a stint as assistant fashion editor for American pop-culture magazine, Planet. One day, combing the streets of New York for inspiration, she came across a tiny boutique infused with the most wonderful scent. It was a moment when destiny played her card. Suzannah bought a bottle of the fragrance and left the shop having made the decision to launch her own fashion label. Today, when you buy one of her Petticoat creations, you'll discover each has the same subtle scent. It's this delicious attention to detail that is Petticoat's signature.
Although Suzannah returned to South Africa and honed her eye for fashion as art director of Glamour magazine, before introducing Petticoat over a year ago. Insiders from the glossy magazine trade snapped up bespoke Petticoat Pumps, charmed by the notion of choosing from Petticoat’s range of fabrics and trimmings to create unique and personalized shoes. The word soon spread as Petticoat Pumps appeared on the pages of top local and international fashion glossies.
Petticoat’s classically quirky fashion collections have followed suit. The common thread is that the designs are locally made and many are part of an exclusively limited edition.
Artfully demure blouses button seductively to the neck. Glorious city shorts are finished with pretty button detail. Jackets and skirts are beautifully lined with quirky fabrics. Striking floral necklaces are lovingly hand-crotched while sentimental petticoats are adorned with delicate, feminine lace. And Suzannah continues to use her fashion talents and instincts to expand the Petticoat collection. True to form, Suzannah packages Petticoat purchases in fabric bags and tin boxes drawn closed with loveworn ribbons. That’s the kind of unique, thoughtful detail that defines Petticoat.