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This Friday, the second annual Pan-African Buyel’ekhaya Fashion Show will bring us emerging designers and showcase their talents via the Buyel’ekhaya Fashion Development Programme.
Ten emerging designers participated in the mentorship programme and are being afforded the opportunity to exhibit their work on the runway at the fashion show.
They’ll share the catwalk with leading designers from all over the continent. The celebrated designers include David Tlale, Thula Sindi, Gert-Johan Coetzee and Laduma Ngxokolo.
The emerging designers are Khanya Matolengwe, Lelethu Tyethe, Ludidi Onke, Lungela Sijila, Masimzukise Jack, Melinda Nkayi, Nomfuneko Kenyane, Ati Banoyolo Nwabisa Setipa, Yanga Nginda and Zandile Goniwe.
Taking place in East London and hosted by Eastern Cape-born Anele Mdoda, the distinctly Afrocentric show will be a celebration of design in the Eastern Cape and across Africa.
As one of the enthusiastic emerging designers, Setipa, said of the 10-day programme: “The programme was run in Joburg by Thula Sindi, who hosted us in his studio and took us to his store. We were also able to spend more time with David Tlale, who ran a helpful workshop with us.”
One of emerging designer Ati Banoyolo Nwabisa Setipa's designs. Photo: Supplied
Setipa says some of the lessons she learnt during the programme were more useful than her experience studying fashion design at Nelson Mandela University.
“While at school they focus so much on the creative side, forgetting that what really makes a successful designer is knowing and understanding the business elements too.”
Setipa said her inspiration for her Buyel’ekhaya Fashion Show collection was a book she read when she was in Grade 8. “I love the story of The Red Blanket by Nellie de Swardt, while also drawing inspiration from the mthembu culture using a lot of red and black.”
- The Buyel’ekhaya Fashion Show takes place on December 15 at the Orient Theatre in East London. Tickets are R150 at computicket.com
