Local designers leave a mark in Italy

Local fashion designers Machaya Boitumelo Selepe and Joyce Tsie are aiming to enter the international market following their participation in the Torino Fashion Week that was held from 27 June to 3 July in Turin, Italy.
The duo was afforded the opportunity to showcase the products, meet with potential investors, buyers and they also attended workshops which informed them on how to market their products and compete in the market. Selepe who is from Seshego and Tsie from Lebowakgomo were among other 18 designers from South Africa who attended this prestigious event. The duo said Small Business Development Deputy Minister, Cassel Mathale joined them at a later stage and expressed appreciation for the support from a senior government official.
The selected designers also participated in business-to-business sessions and meetings, and made appearances in front of qualified fashion juries to judge their work. Tears of joy were shed at Gateway International Airport last Thursday when the two arrived home after seven days of networking and designing. They said they left a mark in Italy and educated most designers that side as they knew less about South African cultures and designs.
“We used our traditional colours in our designs and added a touch of Islamic colours to accommodate them. Everyone wanted to see designs from us and we are confident that our participation at Torino Fashion Week will open doors to bigger things. We visited a huge factory shop in Biella where most big labels buy their fabric and we are planning to buy ours there in the future,” they stated. This was the first time they participates on the international stage and they are hoping to secure such opportunities in the future to boost their businesses.
Selepe is the founder of Royal Wardrobe Designs while Tsie owns Sadijoyce Design. They reiterated that they made it a point that they excel and represent Limpopo and the country by incorporating traditional colours in all their designs. The trip to Italy was sponsored by Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) and what the duo had to do to be selected was to submit a profile of their businesses, it was learnt. They advise other small business owners to consider taking part in such gatherings to learn more about their respective businesses and how to improve their skills.

Story and photo: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za