SOWETO Fashion Week SS 2012

“Taking place from the 24^th to the 26^th of May at Soweto Hotel, Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown Soweto, Soweto S/12 Fashion Week will bring visitors some of Soweto’s hidden talent; designers with creations that are of international standards and edgy.

The show will feature a ‘surprise’ opening ceremony, over 15 designers throughout the three days and end on a high as one designer will walk away with a design and construction bursary from InScape Design College.

One truth holds for most of the designers; the South African fashion industry is tough to crack with minimal resources. Most of these designers have had to do with minimal equipment and an almost zero budgets in the hope of growing internationally one day. Educating one-self further whilst trying to make money with a career that requires a lot of hand-hours is hard as well. Support for these designers is a definite necessity for all the designers.

Support has come through from different people for these designers. InScape Design has chosen to give away a half bursary worth R11 500 to one of the designers for a Design and Construction course.

Gepardissima, an proudly South African jewellery brand has also come to the table and sponsored all the jewellery to be won by the designers.

Soweto Hotel has sponsored the venue and all make-up will be handled by the Make-Up Issue. The show is still in its infancy but with all the support coming in, it is bound to grow to greater heights.

 “Our vision at the end of this show and all the future ones we will host is to see these designers grow from their current level to a higher one,” explains Stephen Manzini, the 23 year old show Founder. “We understand how hard it is to survive in the arts industry without a huge capital outlay, but we have faith that one day these designers will showcase on international platforms without having to worry about resources, especially financially.”

Soweto Fashion Week tickets are available at the door and on Computicket for R40.”

From The Desk of: Grace Kadzere | Continuum Design.Strategic.Communications

Show a little support, tickets are a steal. Make a date of it, if you do not frequent Soweto regularly no is the time, do a lunch setting squeeze in Fashion Week in between and wrapped it all up it some cray spot for drinks and partying extravaganza.  I will most definitely in attendance I have always loved young designers work.