By Wendy Johnson

It’s hard to peg Miranda Seakgosing. A fashion designer? A style blogger? Well, she’s both, and a new mum and definitely model material. I mean, look at her in these gorgeous photos.

Whatever role she’s playing, Miranda, of contemporary label MirandaSAKHINO, has her hands full these days. She’s busy putting the finishing touches on her latest collection, which she’ll showcase on Friday, 15 May at FASHFEST. This is Miranda’s debut appearance at the event and when she’s not busy backstage getting her models zipped up—to wow guests with her designs—she’ll be in the audience with her co-designer and photographer husband, reporting for the event. How versatile is that? Click the link to check out more stunning photos including from her latest collection. 

These days, Miranda calls Melbourne home. While her sense of style and love of fashion is a perfect fit for the city, Miranda’s roots in the industry were planted when she was young, growing up in Botswana, in a creative family, with an African mother and a Portuguese father. Her mother, a fashion collector, would have made a great fashion blogger, laughs Miranda. And there are fond memories of her grandmother, a knitwear designer, and her aunty, who was a tailor.

Despite the family’s flair, Miranda was encouraged to ‘do the right thing’ by studying hard and entering a ‘serious profession’. She dutifully did so, travelling to Australia to study, and ultimately landing a job in the world of finance. But something wasn’t quite right and so Miranda decided to follow the saying she uses often: Go forth and be fabulous.

So MirandaSAKHINO was born; a label that focuses on contemporary fashion and blending African and Western influences. “Fashion is a cultural translator and a way of balancing different worlds through style,” says the designer. “With my label, cultures never need to negotiate their presence. Instead, they mix and merge comfortably.”

MirandaSAKHINO stands for stunning yet versatile day and evening wear—garments that appeal to polished, cosmopolitan women who are style conscious, adore fashion and appreciate functional, timeless clothing. “These women are not afraid to tap into their feminine power,” says Miranda.

At FASHFEST, Miranda will launch a stunning resort collection, based on her dream lifestyle and job, which would take her to exotic places around the world. The new collection is alive with bursts of colour and elegant silhouettes. It will feature all-natural fabrics—mostly cotton and silk—with a bit of elastin used here or there for stretch. “The FASHFEST collection will be a bit girly but also a bit regal and have elements of strength,” says Miranda.

MirandaSAKHINO will be on the runway on Friday, 15 May. In the meantime, have a peek at her blog: www.stylegallivanter.com

FASHFEST 13 to 16 May, National Convention Centre. Tickets on sale now.  www.fashfest.com.au