Proudly South African hosts a skills development workshop at the FEDISA Fashion School

Proudly South African’s clothing, textile, footwear, and leather sector-inspired campaign, the Local Fashion Police, took aspiring young fashion designers through a skills development workshop. The Journey to Retail workshop took place at the FEDISA Fashion School in Sandton on Friday, September 1, 2023, and took the students through the ins and outs of the fashion industry in Proudly SA’s quest to drive localisation, create jobs, and boost the economy.

The panel discussion featured industry heavyweights from African Fashion International (Afi)’s Brand & Designer Liaison Manager, Khwaza Tshisela, who delved into the intricacies of putting together a world-class fashion show, followed by Thami Dish, founder of the Feathers Awards, who zoomed into de-gendering fashion and adapting our mindsets around the innovations the fashion industry has made over the years. In addition, one of this year’s competition judges, JJ Schoeman, gave insights into how he made his brand a household name and shared the importance of retaining customers. Sapho Raganya, the assistant director representing the Department of Small Business Development, discussed the plans the department has for aspiring fashion business owners. FEDISA Fashion School’s Clothing Tech for 1^st year lecturer Siyabonga Kobue concluded the panel with words of wisdom for the students and highlighted why it’s important for them to be the change they want to see in the world of fashion.

Through the Local Fashion Police 2023 consumer competition, Proudly South African aims to promote and celebrate the labour-intensive local clothing, textiles, footwear, and leather (CTFL) industry, which has the potential to create a significant number of much-needed jobs and boost the local creative arts economy. The social media-driven competition invites all qualifying consumers to put their fashion foot forward and put their everyday wear to the test. Proudly SA and the Local Fashion Police are looking for four contestants to walk away with R20 000 worth of fashion each by displaying their unique styles, everyday wear, and overall support of locally manufactured garments. This exciting competition aims to celebrate South African designers from all over the country while promoting their love for local fashion. Due to the fact that this campaign has grown in leaps and bounds, Proudly SA is also searching for four runners up who will walk away with amazing fashion inspired prizes.

Happy MaKhumalo Ngidi, chief marketing officer at Proudly South African, said, “Being a well-established local designer is the last leg of the race. The journey begins with a vision and then education. It is therefore critical for Proudly SA to onboard fashion students in the revitalisation of the economy drive. They are critical pieces that we need from today’s generation to reshape the generation of the future and fill in the localisation agenda starting at grass-roots levels.”

To equip the FEDISA Fashion School’s 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd year students with much-needed information and insights they need to get into the industry and eventually become household names. Additionally, the workshop served as a pathway for students to start thinking about the impact they have on the economy through their purchasing decisions and instilling entrepreneurial mindsets that will enable them to change their livelihoods through job creation.

“The workshop, journey to retail, was informed by loads of feedback Proudly South African received last year, in the second year of the competition, where young designers from all walks of life continuously asked how they could be part of this CTFL movement and not be left out. True to our nature and obligation to ensure that we spread the Buy Local narrative as broadly as possible and make a critical difference for the sector, Proudly SA then heeded the call and actively found a way to rope in the young people in the industry”, concluded Ngidi.

The programme included Plus Fab’s Ouma Tema, who shared her story and how her brand came to being the force that it is today. This followed FEDISA’s Janine Starke unpacking the importance of the school contributing to the economy, creating jobs, and why they are South Africa’s leading fashion school.

The competition’s renowned judges, Palesa Mokubung, JJ Schoeman, Otsile Sefolo, and Gert-Johan Coetzee, are ready to identify well-deserving South Africans who are supporting and embodying the local fashion industry through the social media entries. The competition closes on September 8, 2023, and consumers stand a chance to win one of four R20 000 worth of fashion from the four judges who have picked them as a winner. But that’s not all; all four winners will also receive a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase their modelling skills. They will have the exclusive privilege of strutting the catwalk wearing the collections curated by our esteemed fashion designers at the LFP Fashion Show Finale on Thursday, October 26, 2023

HOW IT WORKS

1. Strike a pose: Embrace your local fashion sense put on a stunning outfit featuring designs from local fashion brands or designers or jump into your everyday home or workwear. Capture your fashion-forward look in a creative and engaging photograph.

• Follow Proudly SA, post and tag: Share your photo or video on your preferred social media platform (Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter) using the hashtags #LocalFashionPolice2023 #WearLocalEveryday #BuyLocalToCreateJobs and tagging Proudly SA’s relevant accounts as per below:

Twitter: @admin

Facebook: @proudlysa

Instagram: @proudly.sa

Tik Tok: @officialproudlysa

Consumers are encouraged to set their social media profiles to public during the competition period so we can receive your entry.

• Spread the Word: Encourage your friends, family, and followers to like, share, and engage with your post to increase your chances of winning. Multiple entries are allowed, so feel free to showcase your creativity with diverse outfits.

4. You will be notified before the finale on 26 October 2023 whether you made the shortlist. Click here to view the full terms and conditions for the 2023 Local Fashion Police competition.

MEET THE ESTEEMED LOCAL FASHION POLICE

• Gert-Johan Coetzee specializes in couture red-carpet gowns and designs ready-to-wear range. Coetzee is known for dressing South African and international celebrities at red-carpet events.
• JJ Schoeman also known as Mr “Miss South Africa,” has designed amongst others for Miss South Africa and Miss SA Teen, representing South Africa. JJ has designed for the Miss World and the Miss Universe pageants since 2005, and the National Costume he designed placed second at the Miss Universe 2006.
• Known for her love of bold prints, Palesa Mokubung is the owner of Mantsho. She was named “the African trend dictator” by True Love Magazine in 2019 and received a GQ best-dressed award as well as the Haig Club Clubman Disruptor Award In 2014.
• Hailing from Morula View north of Pretoria, Otsile Sefolo is the founder of Otiz Seflo which specializes in high-end fashion. Otiz Seflo tailors for both men and women who are bold in their approach when it comes to fashion and style.

For more information and updates, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and visit our website www.proudlysa.co.za.

ENDS