City hosts mentorship course for young designers

THE 11th instalment of the Durban Fashion Fair (DFF) Mentorship Programme, which mentors young designers, commenced last week as the young designer hopefuls gear up for the DFF in September.

The initiative was developed by the eThewkini Municipality to grow the fashion industry in Durban and create a platform for employment and entrepreneurship. Hundreds of young designers put their names forward at the beginning of the year, and 23 were chosen to take part in the programme, which includes working closely with some of the city’s fashion gurus.

According to Nondumiso Mthembu from the City’s Business Support, Tourism, Market and Agri-Business Unit, the fashion mentees are all currently working in the fashion industry and were selected based on three pillars – creativity (which was judged by their storyboards), garment construction, as well as business acumen (a traceable client base, business plan and business skills).

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Most of these interns will also see their work on the ramp at the Durban Fashion Fair later this year from September 21 until September 24 at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre. This is where several of the aspiring designers will showcase their garments for the first time. eThekwini Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda said the aim of the mentorship programme is to train enterprising young designers in all aspects of the fashion business and prepare them for the DFF as well as to encourage self-employment by sharpening designers’ skills so they in turn create employment for others.

Programme mentor, Fezile Mdletshe and her team will not only guide the mentees on orientation and textile selection, but will provide valuable information on manufacturing, brand management, costing and entering the world of retail. And as part of the programme, the mentees are provided different design briefs and assignments each week where they work in teams and critique each other’s work.

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The mentees are also taught to design collections and will also be taught how to run their own successful businesses. When the programme concludes, three of these intern designers will receive a recognition award during the Durban Fashion Fair Awards on September 24.

Catch all the fashion news about the 2022 Durban Fashion Fair on the Facebook page: DurbanFashionFair or on
Twitter or Instagram @Dbnfashion_fair.

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