Interested in the fashion industry?
Ekurhuleni, in collaboration with the Gauteng Department of Economic Development, is on a drive to establish the Gauteng Fashion Forum for Ekurhuleni.
Interested role players in the fashion industry (such as clothing, design, seamstresses, retail, footwear, leather, modelling) are invited to to attend the stakeholders workshop on Wednesday (September 2) at the Boksburg Civic Centre Hall from 10am to 3pm.
The Gauteng Fashion Council (GFC) is a provincial industry body which deals with clothing, textile leather and footwear (CTLF) in province. Funded by the provincial government, it will roll out projects within the CTLF sector in Gauteng and all municipalities in the region.
Representatives from municipalities and provinces will make up the Executive Committee, and Ekurhuleni’s representative is Hannelie Swart from its Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Department.
The interim directors are designers who are well established within the fashion industry:
* Anthony Malatsi – owner of the Mzansi Designers brand;
* Nandipha Mangaliso – owner of the Sun Goddess brand;
* Bontlefeela Mogoye – fashion designer;
* JJ Schoeman – owner of the JJ Schoeman brand;
* David Tlale – owner of David Tlale brand.
Each will liaise with one municipality in terms of coordinating the CTLF industry in Gauteng. Ekurhuleni will work with David Tlale. He launched his brand in 2013, winning the Elle New Talent in South Africa, and has being noted as the Best Designer by the Sunday Times.
Stakeholders meeting
The aim of the stakeholders meeting is to introduce the GFC to industry players in Ekurhuleni and select a fashion industry role player to form part of the GFC Executive Committee. In addition, this will assist in developing Ekurhuleni and GFC database as well as establishing the Ekurhuleni Fashion Forum.
The following programmes planned for the future will focus on:
* Entrepreneurs that haven’t yet established a business, but have talent. The venture creation programmes and creative skills programmes will assist in, for instance, designing, technical skills improvement and their business models.
* Assisting with improving products and designs according to the changing needs of the industry and in business management and related necessary skills development techniques.
As an outcome of the above, the forum will assist designers to grow their brands locally and internationally and assist with local and exports markets (eg with Government and other entities funding these type of initiatives).
The forum envisions to, at a stage, also negotiate for funds for community human capital investment especially in the disenfranchised communities, eg for resources needed, fashion exhibitions, and shows.
You can register to be a part of the stakeholder engagement on 2 September by contacting Busi Simelane at 011 999 8334; email hannelie.swart@ekurhuleni.gov.za, or fax to 011 999 3357. You can also register on the day from 9am to 10am.
For more information contact Hannelie Swart, Manager: Arts and Culture, with the City of Ekurhuleni at 083 469 5470 or hannelie.swart@ekurhuleni.gov.za or David Tlale at 011 614 7424 or david@davidtlale.com.
