Arts and Creative Industries / Fashion / South Africa and France embark on fashion learning journey

South Africa and France embark on fashion learning journey

Arts and Creative Industries
SHARE
THIS:
3 December

On 25 and 26 November 2024, the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) hosted Fashion Forward: Industry Development Dialogues, a two-day event in Johannesburg aimed at strengthening South Africa’s fashion industry.

The dialogue series brought together local and French experts to address the challenges within the fashion value chain, including sustainability, market readiness, and the support needed for emerging businesses. The programme, which aligns with DSAC’s Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) Master Plan, serves to create a platform for collaboration between the French and South African fashion sectors. Dr Cynthia Stella Khumalo, Acting Director-General at DSAC said:

Bringing stakeholders together in an intentional way will deepen understanding of the needs of the sector and begin to chart the way forward for South Africa’s fashion sector to work together to grow local businesses

The dialogues included a series of panel discussions featuring key experts. French participants, Frédérique Gérardin, Amedi Nacer, and Louis Orlianges, brought their expertise in innovation, craftsmanship, and market strategies, providing valuable insights to local stakeholders. The event was supported by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Arnaud Roux, Deputy Head of Mission at the French Embassy said:

South Africa and France’s shared interest in the fashion sector is an opportunity to contribute to the former’s economic development through the promotion of emerging and small businesses. It is also an opportunity to shed light on the current South African fashion ecosystem, steered by a new generation of talented designers

In addition to the discussions, the programme included visits to prominent fashion hubs in Johannesburg, including Thebe Magugu House, Fabric Bank, Molebatsi, and the Fashion Accounts exhibition at Museum Africa. These visits showcased the rich creative potential of South Africa’s fashion sector and its ability to tell compelling cultural stories.

Download the press release here.

You might also like

Twelve South African creatives selected for ‘Unrecorded Voices’ AI Programme

Twelve South African creatives have been selected for the ground-breaking Unrecorded Voices explorative Artificial Intelligence (AI) programme hosted by...

Applying to study in France? What you need to know

Applying to study in France? Read more about studying in France on the Campus France South Africa website here.

Generation Equality : Making South Africa’s Climate Change Response Gender-Sensitive

In the framework of the Generation Equality Forum, the Feminist Action for Climate Justice (FACJ) Action Coalition organized a...

Calling on all SMEs, startups and researchers working within the Agriculture Technology (AgTech) landscape! 

The World Bank Group and the French-South African Agricultural Institute (F’SAGRI), in partnership with the Department of Science and Innovation...

Let's get social
This message is only visible to admins.
Problem displaying Facebook posts.
Click to show error
Error: Server configuration issue
Twitter feed is not available at the moment.
The Occupying The Gallery / Occupying IFAS project, with an artist collective led by internationally acclaimed visual artists, Mary Sibande and Lawrence Lemoana, transforms art galleries into mentoring spaces for a dozen young creatives, offering a platform where artistic creation and learning come together. Their two occupations of IFAS were joined by Mosa Anita Kaiser, Hoek Swaratlhe, Lungile Ngcobo, Sphatho Mzantsi, Bongani Ndlovu, Tatenda Maisa, and Mlondi Magubane. From 16 April to 16 May and 22 to 30 July 2024, the creative platform on the first floor of IFAS was transformed into an artists' residency, positioning the Institute as a veritable creative hub for emerging artists and responding to the desire to support mentoring and training activities – a key focus of Occupying’s transformational agenda. In the first phase, the artists worked over a month-long residency to collectively produce artworks and prints, in collaboration with Artist Proof Studios, which were later presented at the RMB Latitudes Art Fair in Johannesburg from 23 to 26 May 2024. Upon their return to IFAS for a 10-day residency led by French visual artist, Hugues Anhēs, and independent exhibition coordinator and curator, Camille Gajate, joining from Paris through the support of Institut français in Paris and IFAS, the occupants produced Fahla Fahla!. ‘Fahla Fahla!’ is a colloquialism of the act of putting together, a touch, touch here and there, in bits and pieces. A drop of something short and sweet: adding and subtracting when needed to make a whole.
For a closer look at the Création Africa journey, watch the testimonial video featuring the entrepreneurs in their own words. Hear firsthand how the programme has shaped their ventures, opened up international connections, and provided a platform to bring Southern African creativity to the global stage.
For a closer look at the Création Africa journey, watch the short testimonial video featuring the entrepreneurs in their own words. Hear firsthand how the programme has shaped their ventures, opened up international connections, and provided a platform to bring Southern African creativity to the global stage.
THEBE MAGUGU is a luxury fashion brand that offers ready-to-wear collections and explores parallel concepts through multidisciplinary capsule projects. The brand is rooted in education: informing the world about stories and crafts, with each collection named after a university subject. The goal is to purchase premises in Johannesburg that will be used as an incubation, workshop, library, events and café venue.
Terry Made Designs is a contemporary luxury clothing brand specialising in ready-to-wear and custom clothes, accessories, and professional styling services. The brand focuses on sustainability by repurposing second-hand clothes and pre-loved fabrics.
Tendalo Trading specialises in repurposing rubber tubes from cars, trucks, and tractors into eco-friendly, durable, waterproof, and ethically sourced bags. The focus is on recycling and upcycling to mitigate environmental pollution and align with Sustainable Development Goals.
SourceCode Motion Pictures specialises in innovative visual storytelling through 3D animation, VFX, and cutting-edge technologies like Unreal Engine. Services include film production, web series, TV shows, and ad campaigns.
Renaissance Design is a Pan-African multidisciplinary creative agency specialising in conceptualising and designing modern ancient African-inspired patterns. The business extends its services to interiors, fashion, product design, and custom design for corporate and hospitality brands. It aims to reflect ancient Africa in modern living.
Pineapple on Pizza Studios is a games and digital arts studio that focuses on game development and gamification projects. ‘Moya’ is the flagship project: a 2D narrative puzzle set in an apocalyptic African landscape.
Moodswing is the world's first platform that allows businesses and individuals to enhance their conversations with personalised AI-generated playlists of background instrumental music based on their mood. It is creating job opportunities for talented individuals who are passionate about music.
Building upon the foundation of the established streetwear brand, Butan, LSJ Clothing and Merchandising, is venturing into footwear design that incorporates recycled materials (particularly discarded rubber tyres).
Kwacha Creative Studios is a Malawi-based film production and distribution company. The business showcases the unique and diverse stories and brands of Malawi, producing feature films, TV series, documentaries, and creative advertising campaigns.
Subscribe
© 2024 frenchinstitute.org.za. All rights reserved. Site design by Nicework.
View our Data Policy and Terms.