The 2022 Young Designer Competition is set to take place on 30 September at the allfashion Sourcing expo in Cape Town, and will again form part of the Friday evening show schedule for The Week of Fashion at the same venue.
The Young Designers Competition is a platform offering young designers an opportunity to showcase their skillset through their interpretation of a predetermined design brief. With the world turning its eyes to the fashion industry and its reputation as one of the most polluting industries, this year Cyril Naicker, a long standing slow fashion advocate and the Country Coordinator for global non-profit, The Fashion Revolution, has worked with the finalists to shine a light on the concept of ‘Slow Fashion’.
“Designing for a sustainable future needs to factor in how consumers are empowering themselves with information before supporting different designers and brands. Our finalists were therefore tasked with a design brief to create a range that considers the changing consumer mindset and the impact the industry is having on the environment. It’s equally important to think about the digital spaces we occupy, as well as the materials used in the production of a range, and what ultimately happens to our clothes when we no longer wear them,” explains Naicker.
Now in its fifth year, the competition features prizes valued at more than R80 000 with the main prize being an all-expenses paid opportunity to participate at Texworld Paris in 2023 and includes a R15 000 cash prize for the winner and R 5000 for the runner-up. The winner details will be shared on allfashion Sourcing social platforms on the night.
The importance of sustainable fashion will also be pulled through into a panel discussion, ‘Rethinking Fashion’, at 16h30 on 30 September before the Competition Show at 18h00 on the same day. The discussion is hosted by Naicker – who is also a competition judge – alongside his three Young Designer Competition judging peers:
- Tamburai Chirume, Founder of Business Creative Entrepreneurship Africa,
- Leigh Wright, Inscape Cape Town Campus Academic Manager,
- Tania Roussow, brand marketing lead for Plain Tiger who has 19 years experience in beauty and fashion retail.
The 11 finalist in this year’s Young Designer Competition are:
- Carla Hanekom
- Chuma Soqokomashe
- Esihle Mangqishi
- Jessica-Ann Shepherd
- Juanie van Wyk
- Kirsten Ah Hing
- Michael Hittinger
- Mmabatho Silika
- Onthatile Ntlhane
- Oyama Sam
- Tanaka Vengere
The allfashion Sourcing expo runs from 29 September to 1 October and will offer the trade audience an opportunity to network and explore potential business deals and expansion with 50 exhibiting companies. It will take place alongside SA Menswear Week as part of The Week of Fashion in the same venue.
The 2022 edition of allfashion Sourcing and all related events including the Young Designer Competition show will take place at the Wonderland Film Studios, 5 Carisbrook St, Gardens, Cape Town. Opening times are as follows:
- Thursday, 29 September: 3pm to 9pm
- Friday, 30 September: 3pm to 9pm
- Saturday, 1 October: 11am to 5pm
For more information on The Young Designers Competition and details on the expo, please visit the allfashion Sourcing website, or follow them on Instagram.
About Messe Frankfurt
Messe Frankfurt Texpertise is a combination of the world’s most important textile trade fairs. Present at over 50 events across the globe, the business showcases what is driving the industry. A total of 23,000 exhibitors and more than 600,000 visitors from all points of the globe are attracted by the latest themes, trends and contacts. In Frankfurt, Paris, Shanghai, Moscow, New York, South Africa and elsewhere Messe Frankfurt provide impetus to the entire textile value added chain. Find out more visit: www.texpertise.messefrankfurt.com
