A fashion game-changer: Sunday Times Fashion Weekly's first pop-up shop

When the Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair returns to Hyde Park, Joburg, from October 9 to 11 2015, you can't afford to miss The Blue Room - the first curated Sunday Times Fashion Weekly pop-up shop.

We asked some of South Africa's best designers to create unique products in shades of inky blue that will all come together at our stand.

Editor Tiaan Nagel says: "I'm passionate about promoting and supporting local design in all its spheres, and incredibly excited to launch the first retail platform for STFW in collaboration with our very own talented designers."

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The designers who've each created a bespoke collection especially for the fair include:

• Superella

• Anmari Honiball

• Marianne Fassler

• Lunar

• Wake

• Eric Loubser

• Liz Loubser

• Geraldine Fenn

• Henriette Botha

• Simon and Mary

• Missibaba

• Pichulik

• Anthony Shapiro

• KLûK

• CGDT

• Joel Janse van Vuuren

• Albertus Swanepoel

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Here's what some of the designers had to say about using blue as the inspiration for their designs:

"Blue made me think of the Tuareg, the blue people: their billowing blue cloth, ornate silver ornamentation and sacred symbology," says designer Katherine-Mary Pichulik. "I sourced a selection of Tuareg pendants and beaten silver beads... this project became the perfect time to use these precious pieces."

"I've been experimenting with using beads and unconventionally-cut stones to create oversized earrings, so this was an opportunity to follow that through in a blue colour palette," says jewellery designer Eric Loubser. "My inspiration for this collection was handcrafting. I cut a lot of the stones myself which allowed me to play with new shapes and unusual combinations."

"Blue and white is timeless and cool. Using this colour combination in a contemporary way is about two things: bold, simple designs and ombré or tie-dyed surfaces," says ceramisict Anthony Shapiro.

Buy tickets for the Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair at webtickets.co.za for R90, or for R110 at the door - kids under 12 enter free.