Showcase for new East Cape designers

Xoliswa started her business in a single room in Russell Road 10 years ago and is now the chief executive of Kaoz-afric Designers and Fashion School.

She has represented the Eastern Cape both nationally and internationally and says she is passionate about raising awareness about local designers.

“The Eastern Cape is under-represented when it comes to big national fashion events and it is time that the designers here get some recognition,” said Xoliswa.

With the Nokia Cape Town Fashion Week, MTN Durban Fashion Week, the Audi Joburg Fashion Week and many others, Xoliswa says that the South African fashion industry is booming, but is only being focused in the major geographical centres of the country.

“This leaves other provinces without a showcase for developing talent,” she said.

According to Xoliswa, Eastern Cape designers often have to move to Johannesburg to become known.

For example, popular designers behind the Sun Goddess range, Bongiwe Walaza and Nandipha Nandikiza, and the designer who made former president Nelson Mandela‘s famous shirts, were all from the Eastern Cape, but not always recognised as such.

The fashion week will be taking place at the Boardwalk Conference centre from Wednesday, September 9, to Saturday September 12.

According to Xoliswa the organisers of the fashion week hope to discover and develop raw talent around the Eastern Cape.

“A selection committee will be appointed from seven district municipalities within the province to select promising designers and crafters,” she said.

The designers and crafters will be chosen during shows held in the various” fashion hubs”. Ten designers and five crafters from each district will be given the opportunity to showcase their work on the ramp, while a few others will be exhibiting their work at allocated stalls.

Skills development also will form part of the event. seminars will be held during the morning sessions. Seminars will be run on how to source finance and funding, export products and use technology in design.

The event will kick off with an official launch at the Boardwalk on July 25.

Source: The Herald

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