‘Fabulous and fashionable’ describes the 2022 Class of Durban Fashion Fair mentorship programme in which designers gear up for their ‘fashion journey’ – here they are with Fezile Mdletshe, managing director and founder of the Fezile Fashion Skills Academy, and Nondumiso Mthembu, from the City’s business support, tourism, market and agri-business unit, both seated in the centre.
Durban ‒ Chosen from hundreds of young aspirant designers, 23 have begun learning their trade in the Durban Fashion Fair (DFF) Mentorship Programme.
The programme, which includes working closely with some of the City’s fashion gurus, is an eThekwini Municipality initiative developed to grow the fashion industry in the city, as well as create a platform for employment and entrepreneurship.
The young designers are all working in the fashion industry and were selected based on three pillars – creativity (judged by their story boards), garment construction and well as business acumen (a traceable client base, business plan and business skills).
Most of these interns will also see their work on the ramp, some for the first time, at the Durban Fashion Fair between September 21 and 24 at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre.
eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda said the mentorship programme aimed to train enterprising young designers in all aspects of the fashion business and prepare them for the DFF as well as to encourage self-employment by sharpening their skills so they can, in turn, create employment for others.
Programme mentor Fezile Mdletshe and her team will guide them on orientation and textile selection, teach them about manufacturing, brand management, costing and entering the world of retail. Those already in the industry will share information with the class.
Interns are provided different design briefs and assignments each week where they work in teams, and critique each other’s work. They are also taught to design collections.
When the programme concludes, three of these intern designers will receive a recognition award during the Durban Fashion Fair Awards on September 24.
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