Nurturing women's talent

The name Kwanda is derived from the Nguni word ukwanda. It means to grow or to develop.

Community members selected the name when Soul City was developing the programme.

They felt the name was appropriate because the programme helped them to grow and develop their expertise.

Most had been involved in failed sewing cooperatives or businesses. Kwanda Klothing involves rural women who became active participants in the mainstream fashion industry.

The teams are from Kwakwatsi in Free State, Pefferville in East London, Tjakastad in Mpumalanga, Lephephane in Limpopo and Mthwalume in KwaZulu-Natal.

The Kwanda project is a tool to generate a sustainable income beyond the television series.

Selven O'Keef Jarmon, creative director and founder of Kwanda, has worked with local sewing communities since 2003. Most of his time is spent in rural Eastern Cape, which inspires him to give back to underprivileged communities.

The project focuses on community economics and indigenous knowledge that is of particular interest to Soul City.

“We selected six different communities that spoke different languages. So it was important to communicate with the sewing communities if there were to be any successful skills transfer,” Jarmon said.

The designers all graduated from the Walter Sisulu University in Mthatha.

For more information, see: www.kwanda.org

Source: Sowetan

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