I’m not particularly crazy about it but it is certainly a coup for the designer. Durban-based Leigh Schubert will be jetting off to London for the Olympics on the 27th of July where the South African team will be wearing a kit designed by her at the opening ceremony for the games.

In Leigh’s defense and as much as I love the SA flag, I am yet to see a designer who has successfully translated the five (if you leave out the white), very bright colours that make make up our flag into anything stunning. If you have a Brit or American national next to you, the time to give them a green-eyed glance would be now. I should mention, however, that nobody liked Stella McCartney’s kit for the British team. Some of the athletes who will be wearing it are said to have even tweeted their disappointment at her design.

Anyway, the kit design was put out to a vote by the South African public who chose Shubert’s over those of fellow top designers Craig Native, Colleen Eitzen and JJ Schoeman among others. Let’s just be glad it wasn’t outsourced to China. Remember the storm over the Olympic Committee’s decision to have the kit manufactured there?

Prior to her London trip, Schubert is expected to unveil her spring/summer collection at the African Fashion International/Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Cape Town. The event takes place between the 25th and 28th of July at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.