Suzaan Heyns, who launched her eponymous label in 2008, has built up a cult following among local trendsetters in the past few years. With her very sculpted and avant-garde design aesthetic she has established herself as one of South Africa’s most progressive young design talents.

This LISOF alumni is now grabbing the attention of the international design world in a big way. Breaking new barriers, from being nominated for the ‘Most Desirable Object in South Africa’ at the past Design Indaba expo for her Fish Scale Dress, to features in the February issue of Parisian L’Officiel magazine, New African Fashion by Helen Jennings as well as the new international publication ‘Fast Forward Fashion’, curated by Nathalie Grolimund.

Fast Forward Fashion presents

“a new crop of industry vanguards who use fabric as their medium of choice to create art rather than mere clothing. In an age where there is so much access to what is new and fresh in terms of design, it takes something truly special to really stand out. Every so often though, you encounter a designer so astonishingly adept at harnessing historical precedents and synthesizing them with vibrant talent and daring vision. The bold imagery in the pages of this book present a selection of forward-thinking designers who take aesthetic chances. Here the collections strive to provoke dialogue by creating modernized channels for self-expression. Fast Forward Fashion is what happens when fashion defies function.”

Suzaan shares the pages of this new publication with industry royalty such as Viktor & Rolf, Vivienne Westwood, Maison Martin Margiela, Iris van Herpen and fellow South African designer, Clive Rundle.

Continuing to push boundaries, recently teaming up with PPC Cement for her Spring / Summer 2012 Collection shown at SA Fashion Week took Heyns’ architectural signature to a new level, by incorporating cement into the construction of the garments.

The collaboration between PPC and fashion showcases how innovation and creativity can create new frontiers for both industries. The collection has a strong allure of art and showcases Suzaan’s conceptual ability and originality, with each garment showing a strong sculptural element.

To read more about South Africa’s first lady of fashion, don’t miss the May/June edition of De Kat magazine, out soon.