Photo Copyright 2016 TEAM PETER STIGTER
“Sistaaz of the Castle” is a collaborative fashion project featuring six exuberant transgender ladies from South Africa who create outlandish outfits out of ordinary materials. Through the Cape Town sex workers’ organization, S.W.E.A.T., the Dutch photographer Jan Hoek and fashion designer Duran Lantink invited Coco, Cleopatra, Sulaiga, Gabby, Flavinia, and Joan Collins to co-create a series of photographs and a fashion collection inspired by their fashionable appearances. The name of the collaboration comes from their group name, Sistaazhood, and the fact that they live under a bridge beside the castle of Cape Town. Last month the project made it to Fashion Week Amsterdam, featured in an exhibition at Foam Photography Museum Amsterdam, and a book publication is in the pipeline. We spoke to Jan and Duran about their creative venture and what it was like to work with a transgender support group.
How did this idea come about? Well, Duran and I saw a picture of two trans sex workers in Cape Town and they just looked so amazing that we booked a ticket to South Africa to find them. Above all we worked with them because of their buzzing sense of style. In Cape Town we found out that there was this workgroup Sistaazhood, where 40 trans sex workers come together every week and when we got there we found out they all were really amazing and so creative in making their own clothes.
Cleopatra in front of the fountain
Coco in front of the castle
Flavinia – Miss Africa Dream Picture
Sulega and Cleopatra OnBurger
Was it difficult to persuade them to work with you? What was their input beyond modelling?
We spoke with them about all the phases of the project. So they came up with the name of the project and told us how they wanted to be portrayed. They were really keen on joining forces with us, because normally the media only write about them negatively and they want to show the world a different side of their lives. Beyond modelling, they all made a proposal for their dream photo, so the idea of these six photos and outfits all came from them. On top of that we added our own creativity too, which is what a collaboration is all about.
What did you learn from collaborating with those stylish ladies?
That you really don’t need money to look so stunning.
Flavinia and Sulega drinking tea backstage
Joan Collins – dream picture in wedding dress
Cleopatra and Jennifer under the bridge
Photo Copyright 2016 TEAM PETER STIGTER
Photo Copyright 2016 TEAM PETER STIGTER
Photo Copyright 2016 TEAM PETER STIGTER
Photo Copyright 2016 TEAM PETER STIGTER
Photo Copyright 2016 TEAM PETER STIGTER
Are you still in touch with them? How has your relationship developed?
Oh yes, we keep in touch via Facebook with the girls who are on it. We visit them twice in Cape Town and now really consider them as friends. We miss hanging out with them so much. The next step would be to present the project in Cape Town, so that we can have a catwalk show where the girls can be their own models.
Text by Will Furtado
The book version of “Sistaaz of the Castle” will be released in the next few months in 2016