Young designers shine at Proudly South African’s “Fashioning the Future” workshop at STADIO School of Fashion.
Proudly South African’s Local Fashion Police campaign made its mark at the STADIO School of Fashion with an exciting and insightful Young Designer Workshop on 18 September 2024 in Randburg. Themed ‘Fashioning the Future – Weaving Unity Through Fashion,’ the event aimed to empower and prepare aspiring designers with the knowledge and skills needed for a sustainable future in the industry. This workshop is part of the larger social media-driven national campaign focused on equipping upcoming designers for the real world beyond school.
The workshop opened with a welcome from Happy MaKhumalo Ngidi, Chief Marketing Officer of Proudly SA, who stressed the importance of supporting local fashion as part of the nation’s economic growth and job creation efforts. The day was filled with insightful discussions, including an interactive session by renowned local fashion designer Otiz Seflo, who engaged students on topics like pricing garments and running a sustainable fashion business. He also committed that he will take on three interns from STADIO campuses next year to nurture fresh talent.
FNB’s Marketing Lead for Business Banking, Deidre Van Rooy, highlighted how FNB goes beyond traditional banking, journeying with clients to help grow and sustain their businesses. She emphasised that FNB is not just a financial institution, but a brand committed to supporting local enterprises, reinforcing the vital role of financial literacy in building successful fashion brands.
The students also participated in a series of challenges aimed at problem-solving real-world business issues in the fashion industry. The Drippers, the winning team, each walked away with R1000, but with a twist—they must open an FNB account to claim their prize, cleverly tying in the importance of financial planning for any business.
Through interactive sessions, breakaways, and industry insights, Proudly SA successfully empowered young designers, providing them with both practical knowledge and inspiration to navigate the local fashion landscape. This initiative aligns with Proudly SA’s ongoing commitment to promoting local businesses and driving South Africa’s localisation agenda.
The Local Fashion Police campaign continues to champion local fashion, marking its fourth year of celebrating South African talent and promoting the Retail, Clothing, Textile, Footwear, and Leather (R-CTFL) sector. In partnership with FNB, this initiative underscores the importance of supporting locally made fashion and its potential to create jobs and boost the local economy.
This year’s campaign brings back renowned designers Orapeleng Modutle, Jessica Jane Molebatsi, Mzukisi Mbane, and Ole Ledimo, who act as judges, evaluating participants for their dedication to homegrown fashion. Consumers are encouraged to participate by sharing their style, showcasing locally produced garments, and standing a chance to win R40,000 worth of bespoke fashion from one of the judges. This prize ensures that the support for local designers directly benefits their businesses, driving both exposure and sales.
The competition closes at 23h59 on Friday, 27 September 2024 and consumers are encouraged to show their love for Mzansi fashion by entering. Click here to enter.
For more information and updates, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and visit our website www.proudlysa.co.za.
ENDS
About Proudly South African:
Proudly South African is the country’s official buy local campaign, encouraging the nation to buy local goods and services to create jobs and grow the economy. Our mission is to influence consumer behaviour in favour of local products and services, contributing to economic growth and job creation. Proudly SA is a membership-based organisation, and only companies that have been audited and approved are entitled to carry the logo, which symbolises the adherence of that product or service to required local-content thresholds and quality standards.
For more information on Proudly South African visit www.proudlysa.co.za
For media enquiries please contact:
PR Manager: Dambisa Maqoga Senior PR Practitioner: Shernese Defreitas
Office: 011 327 7778 Cell: 0736668270 Office: 011 327 7778 Cell: 079 771 6296
