Nondumiso Mabunda from Dobsonville, Johannesburg was among dozens of designers who showcased their designs at the Soweto Fashion Week held at the Soweto Theatre in Johannesburg.
Emerging and seasoned designers showcased their talents at this year’s Soweto Fashion Week held at the Soweto Theatre in Johannesburg.
Stephan Manzini founded Soweto Fashion Week in 2011 as a passion project with the aim of growing the fashion industry and providing a platform for young designers from the townships.
“There is a lot of talent in townships across South Africa. People are hungry for new things, so we like to help promote talent with fresh ideas,” says Manzini.
This year’s show ran over three days, featuring creative works by established designers as well as fashion design students from nearby TVET colleges.
Manzini says: “We need to come together and see how we can localise the industry and support those on the ground because I believe the industry has the potential for growth and job creation.”
Models dazzled the runway in designs by fashion house Simply Mooi based in Parow, Cape Town.
Nondumiso Mabunda, a designer from Dobsonville, showed some of her creations from her design studio Dominion Creations which she started five years ago.
She says issues of funding and resources are some of the main challenges facing entrepreneurs in the industry. “There’s a lot of creative young people in the community. They just don’t have the resources. The government should also help wherever they can with resources.”
As she continues to grow her brand Mabunda says she hopes to open a fashion school and a shop in Soweto.
Designer James Moroeng of James Presents says growing up and living in Soweto has shaped his design aesthetic and inspires his creations. “My collection is titled Gardens of Soweto. It’s only fitting that my collection was presented here so I can continue to push for a sense of pride in where we come from, and to never be afraid to tell the story of where we come from.”
Moroeng also said that access to resources is one of the biggest challenges faced by young designers.
Stephan Manzini the founder of Soweto Fashion Week says the event is a platform to showcase talent from townships.
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The South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) plays a role in community development and activism.
stormcake
A South African, an Australian and an Englishman are all having a drink
The Englishman and South African both drink from Pint Glasses, the Australian from a bottle.
The South African, upon draining his glass, drops in back down on the bar, pulls out a pistol, and shoots the glass.
\”In South Africa, there is so much sand that I never drink from the same glass twice!\”
The Australian, having drained his bottle, sets it down upon the bar and, upon seizing the South African\’s pistol, shoots his bottle.
\”In Australia, there is so much booze that I never drink from the same brand twice!\”
The Englishman, likewise having drained his glass, sets his glass upon the table, seizes the pistol the pistol from the Australian, and shoots the South African and the Australian, quite dead.
\”In England, there are so many of you bastards that I never drink with the same two twice!\”
Midas
Fun South African Fact: It’s believed that Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain is one of the oldest mountains in the world. Table mountain is approximately 260 million years old; it’s also home to thousands of species of plant life, including species unique to the Cape Floral Region. The glorious mountain is one of the world’s 7 New Natural Wonders. It is also apparently one of 12 main energy centres on the planet emitting spiritual, magnetic, and electric energies. It’s an idyllic and very popular hiking destination with hundreds of routes to explore.