Four fashion designers from Durban are set to benefit from a partnership which aims to develop the provincial fashion industry and make it more competitive nationally and globally. Karen Monk-Klijnstra, Kathrin Kidger, Genna-Wae Webster and Siyethemba Ngwenya have been sponsored by the KwaZulu-Natal Fashion Council (KZNFC) to take part in the renowned Johannesburg Fashion Week.
The sponsorship is through a partnership agreement with Trade and Investment KZN (TIKZN). Up and coming designer Ngwenya, said it was an honour for him to be a part of this group that will take part in the Fashion Week. “As a young designer this will give me an opportunity to showcase my designs at the Fashion Week. I will also be able to grow my clientele†said the visibly excited Ngwenya.
Programme Director Jasmine Sultan, said the purpose of sending these designers to the Johannesburg Fashion Week was part of the KZNFC’s Market Access Programme. Local shows are targeted to provide designers with the opportunity to showcase their ranges and in doing so provide them with access to markets, i.e. buyers and retailers. “From an economic perspective, we want them to come back to Durban with full order books because this means job creation in the province†she said. Sultan said that last November, the KZNFC established a sub-committee which included representation from the Municipality’s Economic Development Unit (Sector Development), TIKZN and KZNDEDT. The KZNFC embarked on a meticulous, transparent and equitable process to select designers to showcase at Johannesburg Fashion Week.
She said a call for applications was put out in the newspapers and designers were invited to submit detailed CV's. These were shortlisted by the sub-committee and the qualifying designers were invited to an interview where they had to present their company portfolio, their experience in the industry and actual garments.
They were also subjected to a host of standard questions put to them by the panel. Sultan said that one of the KZNFC’s objectives is grow the fashion design sector in KZN into a world-class industry and firmly position Durban as a fashion destination. She further added that the support from the private sector for this event has been phenomenal with Velvet Sky sponsoring flights and Signature Life Hotels sponsoring accommodation for the KZNFC, designers, models and crew. “We are taking
Durban to Johannesburg because Durban is Alive!†she emphasized.
The KZNFC was established by the eThekwini Municipality’s Economic Development Unit and KZNDEDT to support that fashion design sector. For further information, please contact Jasmine Sultan on 031 579 3883 or email jasmine@kznfc.co.za.
The sponsorship is through a partnership agreement with Trade and Investment KZN (TIKZN). Up and coming designer Ngwenya, said it was an honour for him to be a part of this group that will take part in the Fashion Week. “As a young designer this will give me an opportunity to showcase my designs at the Fashion Week. I will also be able to grow my clientele†said the visibly excited Ngwenya.
Programme Director Jasmine Sultan, said the purpose of sending these designers to the Johannesburg Fashion Week was part of the KZNFC’s Market Access Programme. Local shows are targeted to provide designers with the opportunity to showcase their ranges and in doing so provide them with access to markets, i.e. buyers and retailers. “From an economic perspective, we want them to come back to Durban with full order books because this means job creation in the province†she said. Sultan said that last November, the KZNFC established a sub-committee which included representation from the Municipality’s Economic Development Unit (Sector Development), TIKZN and KZNDEDT. The KZNFC embarked on a meticulous, transparent and equitable process to select designers to showcase at Johannesburg Fashion Week.
She said a call for applications was put out in the newspapers and designers were invited to submit detailed CV's. These were shortlisted by the sub-committee and the qualifying designers were invited to an interview where they had to present their company portfolio, their experience in the industry and actual garments.
They were also subjected to a host of standard questions put to them by the panel. Sultan said that one of the KZNFC’s objectives is grow the fashion design sector in KZN into a world-class industry and firmly position Durban as a fashion destination. She further added that the support from the private sector for this event has been phenomenal with Velvet Sky sponsoring flights and Signature Life Hotels sponsoring accommodation for the KZNFC, designers, models and crew. “We are taking
Durban to Johannesburg because Durban is Alive!†she emphasized.
The KZNFC was established by the eThekwini Municipality’s Economic Development Unit and KZNDEDT to support that fashion design sector. For further information, please contact Jasmine Sultan on 031 579 3883 or email jasmine@kznfc.co.za.
