MAAK: A force in fashion
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Looking at her today, it’s hard to believe fashion designer Charne Esterhuizen’s daily get-up once consisted of a pair of “daggy jeans and a button up shirt.”
“I grew up on a farm in South Africa, where fashion wasn’t really on the radar,” Charne says.
“It was mind-blowing to me when I moved to Australia at 16, everyone else was so trendy and on top of things, and that made me want to have my own individual look.
“That sort of pushed me a bit more I think, and then I really got into it.”
Charne’s newfound interest in fashion inspired her to pursue a degree in a Bachelor of fashion design at CIT.
“In South Africa, it wasn’t possible to study fashion, you’d only ever study maths or science, so for me this was a dream,” she says.
The 23 year old launched her own label, MAAK (Afrikaan for ‘to make something’) last year, previewing her collection on the catwalk at 2015 FASHFEST.
Though it’s still early days, the label is already making waves, with Charne dressing Aussie musos Boo Seeka, Hands Like Houses and Vera Blue.
Where possible, Charne focuses on minimal waste during production.
“I don’t really have a signature style or follow trends,” she says.
“I like to work with the personality I’m creating for, and that makes the garment more special to them.”
With a strong sport and “street” aesthetic, Charne’s label features delicately hand-beaded dresses (one soon to feature on the HerCanberra magazine cover!) relaxed fabrics and edgy jackets, that aren’t exclusive to either men or women.
“Most of my clothing is unisex, so I love that either men or women can wear the same clothes of mine,” she says.
“I love the ability to be creative, I’m very innovative. I love to be able to create something mind-blowing and just love the ability to express myself through a garment.”
Visit MAAK at maakclothing.com
Photography: She is Aphrodite
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