New programme for fashion

The Gauteng Fashion Council (GFC) is a provincial industry body which deals with clothing, textile leather and footwear (CTLF) in the province.

The council is funded by the provincial government.

The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality’s (EMM) spokesperson, Mr Themba Gadebe, said the Gauteng Fashion Council will roll out projects within the CTLF sector in Gauteng and all municipalities in the region.

Representatives from municipalities and the province will make up the Executive Committee, and the EMM’s representative is Ms Hannelie Swart from the Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Department. The interim directors are designers who are well established within the fashion industry:

Mr Anthony Malatsi – owner of the Mzansi Designers brand.

Ms Nandipha Mangaliso – owner of the Sun Goddess brand.

Ms Bontlefeela Mogoye – fashion designer.

Mr JJ Schoeman – owner of the JJ Schoeman brand.

Mr 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 Mr David Tlale. He launched his brand in 2013, winning the Elle New Talent in South Africa award and has been noted as the Best Designer by the Sunday Times.

Stakeholders meeting

Mr Gadebe said the aim of the stakeholders meeting is to introduce the GFC to industry players in Ekurhuleni and to select a fashion industry role player to form part of the GFC Executive Committee.

In addition, this will assist in developing an EMM and GFC database as well as establishing the Ekurhuleni Fashion Forum.

“Establishing the forum will assist in having contact with local business in Ekurhuleni, as well as communicating fashion programmes and projects to industry stakeholders. This will go a long way for the EMM to be able to measure the impact and sustainability of such a forum by identifying new and existing small, medium and large business within this industry. Skills and industry gaps will also be identified and the EMM will then be in a position to create skills development programmes,” said Mr Gadebe.

The following programmes planned for the future will focus on:

Entrepreneurs who 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 the related skills development techniques.

As an outcome of the above, the forum will assist designers to grow their brands locally and internationally. It will also assist with local and exports markets.

“The forum envisions to, at a stage, also negotiate for funds for community human capital investment, especially in the disenfranchised communities,” said Mr Gadebe.

You can register to be a part of the stakeholder engagement on September 2 by contacting Ms Busi Simelane on 011 999-8334; email hannelie.swart@ekurhuleni.gov.za, or send a fax to 011 999-3357.

You can also register on the day from 9am to 10am.

For more information, contact Ms Hannelie Swart, Manager: Arts and Culture, with the EMM at 083 469 5470, or email hannelie.swart@ekurhuleni.gov.za. Alternatively, contact Mr David Tlale on 011 614-7424 or send an email to david@davidtlale.com for more information.