Sta-Sof-Fro Soweto Fashion Week continues to promote local talent

Extravagant fashion was the order of the day when the Sta-Sof-Fro Soweto Fashion Week (SSFSFW) ignited the fashion scene with the Autumn and Winter 2024 Collection.

The seasonal event was held at Soweto Theatre, showcasing the vibrant looks of the frosty weather from May 07-10.

This year’s theme was “Uncharted Creativity” which depicted a sense of sophistication and elegance, making winter less heavy but more bearable with the newest collection.

ALSO READ: Soweto Fashion Week: A celebration of fashion and new talent

During the media preview on Tuesday, Sta-Sof-Fro Soweto Fashion Week founder, Stephen Manzini said although he had not anticipated the concept to be so broadly recognised, it was a testament of their dedication to their work.

“I grew up in Joburg and Soweto has always been an iconic township. For years, it has been part of heritage, part of families, and part of roots. That is why the concept says Soweto Fashion Week. Honestly, I did not know that it was going to fly, over the years we have seen that if you are determined about your brand, it can work,” he said.

He added that the structure of the Soweto Fashion Week is continuous when he looks at the growth of the industry, not just in Soweto, but how they have helped other townships and the role they have played in other spaces within the fashion industry.

And he is also looking forward to designers coming out of schools to join them nationally and globally.

“Creating the biggest fashion platform on the African continent is my goal for Soweto Fashion Week and I’m headed towards there, it’s only a matter of time.

ALSO READ: Soweto Fashion Week unveils two new sponsors

“Also, through this platform, we are looking forward to helping a lot of upcoming fashion designers across South Africa as well as the African continent or even around the world.

“I mean now we are international so we are looking forward to promoting local talent in different countries so that each country can supply their apparel,” said Manzini.

The Sta-Sof-Fro Soweto Fashion Week has made strides toward appreciating African fashion and embracing uniqueness, ultimately aiming to provide numerous designers with a platform.

Speaking to Urban News, designer for Peachyplum, a jewellery brand, Pearl Mutola said through their designers, they want to empower women to feel powerful.

“We are here today as one of the designers who will be showcasing their work. We will be showcasing our jewellery and our body endowments that we call ‘art that you can wear’.

“Our brand is about women empowerment, so every piece that we have we want to encourage women to show off their bodies and showcase themselves. We want them to feel empowered when wearing our jewellery,” said Mutola.