Think local, shop mobile

Every Friday night, the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock is transformed into a shopper's playground. Visitors can buy clothes and accessories from any one of the 48 stalls representing 48 of the country's top designers. These include emerging labels Paige Smith, Guillemette & Melodie, Pseudonym and Mat Blac, as well as more recognisable names such as Amanda Laird Cherry and Darkie.

Or they can simply mingle with their fellow followers of fashion in a super-stylish setting.

The focus is on building South African brands in a social environment, says the event's founder, Cape Town designer and entrepreneur, Andrew Clarke.

TMB is an especially interesting concept in the context of the global recession in that it gives new and upcoming designers the opportunity to present their wares to the public without the often prohibitive overheads of commercial retail space. What's more, each stand is identically sized to ensure that every designer gets equal exposure, irrespective of market status. For Clarke, TMB is the culmination of years of hard work in the fashion industry and the fruit of his passion for home grown, proudly South African design.

Clarke believes that by supplying practical business advice, TMB will be able to help raw design talent become something infinitely more formidable and business savvy, ensuring that local brands excel on the international stage.

The Mobile Boutique takes place every Friday night from 6pm to 11pm at The Old Biscuit Mill. Go to www.themobileboutique.co.za for more information.

Source: The Times

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