Studio Visit: Albertus Swanepoel, Milliner - NYC

Way before Albertus Swanepoel was featured in Vogue and on the racks at Barney's, he was a kid from Pretoria, South Africa. When I think of Pretoria back in the 70's and 80's during Apartheid, I think of conservative, religious White neighborhoods and beautiful purple Jacaranda trees. It's hard to believe that a creative force like Albertus could grow and nurture an imagination in that kind of environment, but he did. It took him to the top of the South African fashion scene as a clothing designer, winning the Coty Award in 1987, the country's top fashion honor.

Albertus moved to New York to take it to the next level. And in true New York fashion, it wasn't so easy!


Full article featured in FRMAG Vol. 5 The Travel Issue