By Sakhile Tembe.
Sustainability is a word that has become synonymous with the need to address climate change, clean practice, and a global movement to make healthy lifestyle choices, always understanding how it will impact our future.
In the world of fashion, it is a topic that can generate spirited conversations that have often left more questions unanswered than finding common ground. The fact of the matter is, back at the ranch, the fashion industry is one of the dirtiest industries in the world. It takes a lot of resources to produce fast clothes. And those resources come at a debilitating cost to the environment, riddled with labor exploitation and putting people’s livelihoods at risk.
The perfect opportunity for the majority of us to dwell on the existential crisis about how paper straws are a far cry from solving the Global chaos of trash and literal fires burning in the ocean. We’re all captives of coping mechanisms that justify and glamorize fast-fashion consumption. With all things considered, why is it so hard to swap out those expensive, guilty-pleasure garments for guilt-free couture?
Contrary to many long standing beliefs, it may not be too late, if we make big changes through the universal language of style, hear me out.
Over the years, South African Fashion Week has taken a pronounced stand for sustainability, leading the conversation with South African local fashion as a conduit for expressing and demonstrating the positive impacts of sustainable fashion practice.
No longer just a buzzword, sustainability has become the haute couture of conscientious living. And guess what? South African Fashion Week is giving everyone a taste of the sustainable pie!
In 2023, the efforts of over 40+ designers, industry players, retailers, buyers, and fashion entrepreneurs have catalyzed a movement toward sustainable fashion driven by unity, collaboration and creativity.
South African Fashion Week has engaged with like-minded stakeholders for the past 25 years to bring fashion excellence to the spotlight in meaningful ways. Mr. Price, Cruz Vodka, and Fashion Bridges form part of the enablers in 2023, scouting new talent, offering skills development opportunities, and empowering local fashion designers.
Mr. Price New Talent Search Collections
Fashion retail chain Mr. Price, has cemented itself as a crowd favorite at SA Fashion Week, bringing some of the most exciting designers to the forefront. Most noteworthy talent supported by Mr Price include The BAM Collective, and Munkus, who’ve become known for bringing a whimsical yet classic approach to accessible and sustainable luxury fashion.
As the headline sponsor of the New Talent Search in collaboration with SA Fashion Week, Mr. Price provides a platform for unearthing top emerging talent and supporting South Africa’s next generation of designers. But how far does this support go after the fact?
Meet the designers who turned heads with runway looks infused with personal storylines from their lives. Click here.
Their collections were a subtle brag, showcasing a talent for garment construction and print development which is a signature strength amongst designers across Africa. Apart from presenting collections that are sustainably produced, one could tell that the designers are fearless creatives who, with the continued support, could go on to cement themselves as pioneers in their respective disciplines. Cyla Gonsolves took this years prize and will receive a cash prive of R50 000 plus the coveted opportunity to design a limited-edition collection to be sold exclusively at selected Mr. Price stores and an extensive mentorship with Mr. Price Group, nice!
2023 SAFW NEW TALENT SEARCH FINALISTS
• Cyla Gonsolves: Cyla Gonsolves
• Kuhle Phumzile Zondo: E_Mania
• Caileigh Davis: Silver Magpie
• Sifiso Kunene: Messrsbasswood
All Runway Images by Eunice Driver Photography .
The Cruz Collective
Premium vodka brand, Cruz, came through with its handcrafted spirits, delicious cocktails, and stylish collaborations. Their partnership with South African Fashion Week has given rise to the Cruz Collective, a platform that introduces the world to the inaugural Fashion Bridges participants.
Fashion Bridges – I Ponti della Moda, is a collaborative project between the Italian Embassy in South Africa and leading industry organizations, including Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, Centro di Firenze per la Moda Italiana, South African Fashion Week, Polimoda Firenze, Lineapelle, and the Nelson Mandela Forum. The project is designed to foster cultural and design exchange between Italy and South Africa, promoting emerging fashion talent from both countries.
Talented designers, four from South Africa, Sipho Mabuto and Fikile Zamagcino Sokhulu, as well as East Meets-African Elysian-Ego collection by Cape Town-based, Michael Ludwig Studio, and four from Italy, were selected to participate in a dynamic three-month virtual mentorship program hosted by Polimoda.
This program was an opportunity for the designers to develop their skills and refine their collections. The results of their hard work said “Ciao, bella” to unsustainable fashion practice as they showcased to the world at South African Fashion Week.
So, after all the talk about sustainability in the fashion industry, South African Fashion Week is here to save the day and bring us guilt-free couture. And let’s not forget about the amazing sponsors, who are graciously supporting these sustainable fashion endeavors. Not only are they unearthing top emerging talent but they are giving them the opportunity to design limited-edition collections to be sold exclusively at their stores. Because nothing says sustainable fashion like limited editions and retail exclusivity, listen, I’m here for it, but let me indulge a side of pessimism which I know we have in common to say this… sustainability is the way to go, and though some of us may not live to see it, guilt-free couture is the hottest trend of the future.
Mark my words!
Follow Press Icons on social media for more updates.
Leave a Reply