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Today, 09 November 2009

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The last throes of winter might be preventing fashion-conscious boys and girls from looking their best, but not even the worst weather's going to keep them inside during the last week of August — that's when South African Fashion Week 2003 kicks off for its seventh year of showcasing the freshest collections of both up-and-coming and established local designers.

The event takes place at its usual venue, Johannesburg's Sandton Convention Centre, from August 27-30, and will be presenting more than 40 of South Africa's top designers at 16 shows, as well as an expanded trade exhibition of local garment, footwear, accessory and textile manufacturers.

In case you're asking (and who isn't!), one of the factors that differentiates SA Fashion Week from the just-held inaugural Cape Town Fashion Week is that the Joburg event is big on unearthing new young talent — big names like Stoned Cherrie and Darkie were previously launched to fame at SA Fashion Week, and with 40 percent of this year's line-up being made up of up-and-coming black designers, fashionistas looking to spot the next generation of rising stars will not be disappointed.

Furthermore, SAFW's principal sponsor, the Department of Trade and Industry, has committed to growing the fashion industry in South Africa and will be supporting its development through SAFW with special emphasis on the promotion of emerging black designers.

"There has been a lot cooking creatively," says SA Fashion Week Programme Director Dion Chang. "This year we have a lot of unusual show slot combinations and an impressive line-up of show producers including industry names like Debbie Welman, Deon Redman and Juanita Kotze, so each show will be really distinctive and memorable."

SAFW FACT SHEET The following statistics from SA Fashion Week 2002 says it all: In its launch year (1997) SAFW comprised nine shows, 17 designers, and 2500 guests. Six years later, it now features 24 shows, 55 designers, 8000 guests, as well as an 80-stand exhibition - all over the space of four days. Twenty-one of the 55 designers were black designers. In fact, five out of eight designers chosen to show their collections in the New Talent Show were black designers. A group of eight designers from the 2002 New Designer Competition are ready to join the market (this indicates more than 20 percent potential growth). Up to 250 models, 60 hairdressers, 60 make-up artists, 50 security personnel, 20 cleaners, and 50 ushers were booked for the duration of SAFW. Over the past three years, SAFW has helped designers to start, and build, over 50 micro businesses.

Some of the participating designers include Black Coffee, Stoned Cherrie, Loxion Kul'ca, Goddess Factor, Ruff Tung, Sun Godd'ess, Hip Hop, Ephymol, Vino, Amanda Laird Cherry, Maya Prass, Icuba, Ruby, Craig Fraser, Clive, The Holmes Brothers & Blond, Nelson Pillay, Shamim Amra, Colleen Eitzen and LIFE by Andre Martin. Expect great menswear at the Carducci show, and cutting edge fashion at the Levis Red show, which will feature Issues and 2ME, Heni Este-Hijzen and Darkie. Other highlights are the African Designer Collection featuring designers from across the continent, the Elle New Talent Competition and a wool collection by LISOF students, as well as the launch collection of Kobie van der Westhuizen, last year's Elle New Talent winner. (Click here to view the show schedule!)

Members of the public wanting a glimpse of what South Africa's fashion industry has to offer for summer 2003/04 can buy tickets for the exhibition from Computicket or directly from the door at R40 per ticket. A limited number of tickets for the shows are also available from Computicket at R150. For more information please phone 011 442 7812.

While SA Fashion Week has always celebrated the established designers, one of its key strengths is launching new labels and nurturing rising talent, which is why a Careers Day has been introduced on the final day giving students from design colleges around the country an opportunity to exhibit and participate in workshops where they can gain valuable insight from professionals working in the industry.

In order to encourage young South African talent to seek out a successful career in fashion, Elle has brought together an illustrious team of speakers, each responsible in different ways for bringing fashion trends to the public. Each of these speakers will give students insight into what their job entails, what qualifications and skills are required and other valuable advice as to the ins and outs of a career in fashion. For further information, contact Guili Osso, Tel: 802 1611, Cell: 083 377 6721 or e-mail: gocomms@mweb.co.za

For more information on South African Fashion Week, contact (011) 442 7812. For entry to the SAFW exhibition and/or tickets to the shows, head past your nearest Computicket pronto! Tickets for the exhibition are R40 per ticket, while individual shows cost R150, subject to availability.

Keep an eye on iafrica.com for pictures from the shows at SA Fashion Week, plus a report-back from our Johannesburg correspondent!

Click here to view the show schedules.

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