The Sistaaz are fierce activists, proud to be trans, proud to be sex workers, and even prouder of their stunning sense of style. And they want it to be acknowledged. Most of the girls are homeless, living under a bridge near Cape Town’s (South Africa) Castle of Good Hope. They are united under the name SistaazHood.
Magazine cover for Sistaaz of the Castle. Courtesy of the Sistaazhood, Jan Hoek & Duran Lantik.
Together with Duran Lantink and Jan Hoek they created a fashion collection and a series of photo’s based on the girls’ appearance and their ability to turn whatever they find into the most exuberant outfits. So far this has resulted in a fashion show presented during Amsterdam Fashion Week, a photo exhibition in Foam (Amsterdam), in Red Hook Labs (New York), a glossy publication that combines documentary with fashion, and now finally an activistic fashion show in Cape Town.
Joan wants to marry in a big fat wedding dress. Courtesy of the Sistaazhood, Jan Hoek & Duran Lantik.
Flavinia wants to become a trans African super model. Courtesy of the Sistaazhood, Jan Hoek & Duran Lantik.
Cleopatra wants to be a female ruler of an African country. Courtesy of the Sistaazhood, Jan Hoek & Duran Lantik.
Coco wants to be the flame of the torch of the statue of Liberty. Courtesy of the Sistaazhood, Jan Hoek & Duran Lantik.
Designer Duran Lantink is the trouble child of the fashion world u love to hate. Duran created Janelle Monae’s memorable vagina trousers for her 2018 PYNK video, he was a being shortlisted for the prestigious Louis Vuitton Prize and is known for his commitment to upcycling in fashion, using discarded luxury garments to produce his collections.
Jan Hoek is an artist, photographer and writer, and besides that the founder of Outsiderland, in which he connects the world of so called “outsider art”, that consists for example artists with a disability or homeless artists with the “regular” art world.
The fashion show in Cape Town will be organised in collaboration with Gender DynamiX (GDX), the first registered Africa-based public benefit organisation to focus solely on trans and gender diverse communities. Musical multi-disciplinary artist, Angel-Ho will be gracing the runway ears with an original score of music.
The Fashion will be taking place on the 28th of November 2022 at 16pm at the Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town, South Africa. Follow this link to support the Sistaazhood. For more information, please visit Gender DynamiX, Jan Hoek, Duran Lantink.
