KZN fashion council

        

KZN Fashion Council supports South African design business to showcase at the prestigious Africa Fashion Week London 2015 

As it prepares to introduce 20 established and emerging South African design businesses to the lucrative global fashion industry at this year’s Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL), the KwaZulu-Natal Fashion Council is determined to deliver on its founding mandate which is to equip designers to become competitive on a national and global scale by supporting and uplifting the design and fashion sector leading to economic development and employment creation.   

Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) is Europe's much anticipated catwalk event of African and African-inspired design collaborative catwalk and exhibition, highlighting the industry’s established and emerged emerging African designers. AFWL is at the forefront of capturing the surge of the African inspired trends in the fashion industry. The event aims to celebrate the work of African inspired designers worldwide.

The KZNFC will be supporting the following South African design businesses participate at AFWL: 

Noxolo Constance Mxhego: Siyasebenza Sewing and Multipurpose Co-operative (KwaZulu-Natal), Amanda Govender: Amanda May (KwaZulu-Natal ), Anina le Roux: LilyBlue Design (Western Cape), Joanna Hedley: Beach Cult (Western Cape), Khanyisile Khoza: K2 Design Studio (KwaZulu-Natal), Lungile Kunene: Izembatho Creations (KwaZulu-Natal), Mapholo Ratau: Ledikana Creations (Gauteng), Meghan Zwick: Lemmin and Sipho Collection (Western Cape), Mike Narainsamy: Manufacturing House of Mike(KwaZulu-Natal), Nkanyiso Mngoma: Thembeleni Printin/Ekamu Brands (KwaZulu-Natal), Shaun Neill: Blossom Handmade(KwaZulu-Natal), Silungile Mokoena: Sluvin Designs (KwaZulu-Natal), Sphiwe Sosisbo: Inkanyezi Yolwazi Fashion Design and Art - Mother Nature Couture(KwaZulu-Natal), Siyabonga Mngadi: Freddy Fashion CC (KwaZulu-Natal), Steve Mandy: Steve Mandy Design (KwaZulu-Natal), Tarryn Shepherd: Rooi Rok Bokkie (KwaZulu-Natal) Thembeka Vilakazi: YADAH Exclusive Designs(KwaZulu-Natal), Tini Mashiapatia: Lemc productions and business projects (Gauteng), Zandile Bulose: ZandyB Designs (KwaZulu-Natal), Zimhlophe Sibiya: Zimhlophe Holdings (KwaZulu-Natal).  

Design businesses successfully qualified for selection after responding to a call for applications issued by KZNFC in March 2015.  All 20 companies, established or emerging fashion exporters, will be subsidized for return flights to London, accommodation & ground travel for the duration of the AFWL event.  

Participating companies will exhibit & showcase their African inspired designes at the “KZNFC SA collectives” a catwalk planned for the 6th August 2015 at the London Olympia.  

According to Acting Managing Director, Nomonde Masoka, the Durban based KwaZulu-Natal Fashion Council “was founded to empower talented local designers with adequate business skills to compete on an equal footing with their international compatriots based on original quality designs”.  

“AFWL is an amazing platform for established South African designers to showcase their originality and innovativeness to Africa, UK and the world.  Emerging designers have an opportunity to take part in the bi-annual 21 Steps to Retail, a capacity building programme that offers a series of technical & business skills training and market access initiatives run by KZNFC.  The programme prepares local talent for such opportunities. The KZNFC continues to support local talent and design businesses participating at AFWL.  Training workshops earmarked for emerging businesses are aimed at addressing export marketing & product quality.  This will ensure the transfer of relevant skills and enable companies to be better positioned and competitive worldwide”

About KwaZulu-Natal Fashion Council

The KZN Fashion council is a NPO formulated by the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs EDTEA and eThekwini Municipality’s Economic Development & Investment Promotions ED&IPU.  The mandate of the council is to support and uplift the design and fashion sector of KwaZulu-Natal to ensure that the number of designers that receive support from the Council grows each year.  Strategic programmes are delivered for junior, emerging and established designers with a focus on previously disadvantaged individuals.

Ends//

For more information contact KZNFC Managing Director (Acting) Nomonde Masoka: nomonde@kznfc.co.za / +27 31 825 8569 / +27 31 825 9647 www.kznfc.co.za