NEW YORK, Sep 17, 2005/ FW/ --- Presenting to a full-capacity crowd at The Tent in Bryant Park, Zang Toi paid homage to Africa showing the beauty of the mystical continent through its tribal culture, flora and fauna sans animal prints.

‘I specifically decided not to show any animal prints because it is so cliché when doing an African theme,’ Zang Toi told FW in an interview backstage. ‘I wanted to highlight the flowers and the butterflies, the more fragile side of the continent.’

With tribal sounds and music as background, Zang Toi opened the show with daywear; a new khaki African stripes body shirt paired with ivory cotton canvas hip-hugging safari shorts.

What followed was a series of easy-to-wear dresses and separates. Standouts include a new khaki tweed safari bustier dress with tiny beads made of native African materials and shapes.

Zang Toi also proposed a ‘new twin set,’ red leather mini paired with cashmere cardigan and pullover with feather and leaf prints.

New this season are accessories - belt packs, pouches and scarves, also in African theme, complimenting the dresses. This move by Zang Toi pleased the retail buyers in the audience that included the Nordstrom Merchandising Chief who sat front row.

And where would we be without Zang Toi’s exquisite gowns, the House of Toi’s premiere line?

Eveningwear has always been Zang Toi’s forte and the series of evening gowns and cocktail dresses for Spring / Summer 2006 will not disappoint his fans and devotees.

Using luxe fabrics such as satin and organza in earth tones, Zang Toi played with African mythology to represent its mystical culture and beauty.

Body hugging gowns that emphasized the shoulders and the waist were decorated with beaded flowers and butterflies.

Beautiful as they were, it was the flowing robes of the ‘African Goddess’ that captured the regality of Africa, something that has never been shown before in New York.

Again, using native African tribal jewelry and adding his own interpretation to it, Zang Toi created ceremonial bibs, collars and oversized necklaces, putting center stage the ‘lost’ royalty of the continent.

An after show interview with Zang Toi revealed that he just wanted to show the beauty of Africa, and he did not want to make a socio-political statement in his show.

But, with the current situation in the continent, wherein HIV, starvation and ethnic cleansing have ravaged it, putting forth Africa’s fragile beauty on the runway is a statement on its own.

Zang Toi

Zang Toi

Zang Toi

Zang Toi