ASPIRING fashion designers gathered at the Miriam Makeba Hall this week for the second Buyel’ekhaya Development Workshop facilitated by world-renowned designer David Tlale.
The workshop forms part of the inaugural Buyel’ekhaya Fashion Development Programme which is being run under the auspices of the annual Buyel’ekhaya Pan African Festival at the Buffalo Park Cricket Stadium in December.
More than 80 hopefuls submitted their creative portfolios to an adjudication panel.
The panel selected 10 finalists who will be travelling to Johannesburg to participate in a mentorship programme with fashion designer Thula Sindi from November 6 to 15.
Tlale said he is amazed at how hungry and creative young designers are.
“The journey we started last year continues and we have had groundbreaking designs this year. I am truly excited to be empowering them because they are so passionate about this industry.”
“It is time they know that they are entrepreneurs as well and we need to build that because they have to create jobs for their communities,” Tlale said.
One of the finalists, Masimzukise Jack, who holds a national diploma in fashion design, said he learnt a lot from Tlale and would use that to start his own business soon.
“He really encouraged us and I learnt that anything is doable,” Jack said.
Another finalist, Onke Ludidi concurred with Jack, saying that it was a great opportunity for them to have a sit-down session with Tlale. “The workshop opened my mind and I think differently from when I arrived here. It’s awesome,” he said.
In this period, the 10 will also design and produce garments to be showcased at the Buyel’ekhaya Fshion Show to be held on December 15 at the Orient Theatre alongside designs of Laduma Ngxokolo (MaXhosa), David Tlale, Thula Sindi, Gert-Johan Coetzee and Mozambican designer Taibo Bacar.
