VOGUE

DESIGNER SWAP

Nadezna blends her love for fashion + structure in her latest film for Vogue, as Cake makes cross-continent productions effortless.

Nadezna Radcore directed the second chapter of Vogue Magazine’s designer-swap initiative featuring Thebe Magugu and Valentino’s Pierpaolo Piccioli.

The project tasks two designers with reimagining each others garments, each working their individual alchemy to transform a look from their fellow creator.

Cake was approached by Vogue to take the lead on the project with South African fashion powerhouse Thebe Magugu. The project needed a firm balance between the aesthetic approach and the technical execution. The designer-swap project follows the same narrative structure throughout each chapter, the first chapter, which featured John Galliano for Maison Margiela and sensational dressmaker Tomo Koizumi, laid the foundations for each follow on film.

“I love the idea of reinterpreting, but I love even more the idea of creating a moment between two identities, two cultures—this conversation creates a new energy.”

— Pierpaolo Piccioli - Valentino

Building on that base, it was important to Nadezna to make sure that both sides of the narrative were tantamount, that Thebe and Pierpaolo were represented as industry peers. This translated into mirroring each aspect of the production for each designer.

As we had two teams on different continents creating this film, it was paramount to have the highest production value on both ends in order for it all to come together cohesively as a final product. Each crew in their respective counties would shoot on the same camera’s with similar lensing following the same shot structures, engaging with the designers around the same concepts.

“When filming Thebe it was important for me to capture his elegance and presence, reflecting the space he is currently taking up in the industry.”

— Nadezna Radcore

As the designers blend their designs, so the filmmakers blend their films.

The final outcome was a beautiful film and a media sensation around the project. The project launched in the September edition of Vogue with cover star Serena Williams, and gained a special mention from Anna Wintour herself.