School uniform design competition for Western Cape

The competition invites designers in the Western Cape who have a passion for community development, have completed a training course in fabric and fashion design or have worked on a clothing project with emphasis on fabric and clothing design.

Purpose of competition

• Design a new line of school uniforms for primary and high school learners in the Western Cape, starting with the Gugulethu area;
  
• Create a line of school wear by the community for the communities of Cape Town that is affordable, with emphasis on high quality material;
  
• Provide as fair an opportunity for participation by as many outstanding designers as possible;
  
• Encourage the critical review of past and present state of school wear designs;
  
• Promote innovative and original creations or designs.

The long-term objectives of this competition are to create employment and skills training for disadvantaged women with disabilities and strengthen the sustainability of the Ukwakana sewing co-operative, made up of people with disabilities in the clothing industry.

The co-operative, Ukwakana, is a group of women with disabilities from disadvantaged communities over the Gugulethu, Khayelitsha and Nyanga areas. They started working together in April 2008 on a Danish-funded project. These women share a common trait; to be independent self-sustaining businesswomen in charge of their financial future. The co-operative was officially registered in September 2009. Currently, it has worked on a range of commercial contracts but because of the shared vision by the women for their financial freedom, they have realised that they need to be proactive in exploring and creating new business opportunities.

Competition criteria

A panel of judges, which includes the project partners and established Cape Town designers, will judge the total number of entries and choose finalists. The designs will be judged according to the rules of the competition; taking into account the following criteria:

• Originality and not an embellishment of a design;
  
• Choice of material and fabric (why this choice of fabric), which usually determines the school uniform price;
  
• Right harmony of colours, style and pattern of the design respecting what the material or fabric allows;
  
• Technical Drawing (must be clean and neatly done);
  
• Good use of design principles and elements;
  
• Completeness and accuracy of design;
  
• Originality in the interpretation of the design.

Awards

• The first prize-winner will receive the Ukukwana School Uniform Design Competition Award-2010, a cash prize of R10 000 and an internship contract for 12 months at the Ukukwana Sewing Co-operative;
  
• Second prizewinner will receive R2500;
  
• Third prize-winner will receive R1500.

Entries

Deadline for entries is 14 April 2010 at 1pm. Entry forms can be collected at DWDE offices during office hours (Mondays - Fridays 9am -3pm) at 21 Cavendish Street, Claremont, Cape Town. Telephone +27 (0) 21-674 6139 for more details or email with ‘Ukukwana School Uniform Design Competition 2009/10' in the subject heading.