Nine local fashion designers have received equipment to advance their businesses and improve productivity in an effort to revive the clothing and textile industry and create employment.
A R250 000 cheque for the equipment was handed to the Durban Fashion Fair (DFF) rising stars on July 25 as part of a public-private partnership.
The nine beneficiaries are Treasure Cindi, Sicelo Dlezi, Martin John Steenkamp, Kwenzi Nkomo, Sanelisiwe Skhosana, Dineo Khumalo, Sandile Mngadi, Sizwe Mncube and Zama Gumede.
The business equipment handover included fabric, generators, signage material, industrial sewing machines, as well as laptops and industrial irons. The eThekwini Municipality and the Hollywood Foundation sponsored the funds to the designers.
Mr Steenkamp, founder of the Martin John Bespoke fashion label brand, said the designers were truly humbled and grateful for this help.
Councillor Msizi Mabaso, a member of the City’s economic development and planning committee, said the aim is to advance the local textile industry, which took a knock when the market was flooded with cheap, imported clothing at the end of apartheid after international trade restrictions were lifted on South Africa.
This reduced the availability of textiles for use in South African clothing manufacturing, which increased the cost of locally made products. Many local clothing factories had closed their businesses as a result – this led to thousands of men and women (mostly breadwinners) losing their jobs.
“We thank the Hollywood Foundation for embracing the public-private partnership model. This model is crucial in growing and reviving the small, medium, and micro enterprise sector. We call on more private sector stakeholders to do the same to help SMME businesses grow,” said Mr Mabaso.
He said the beneficiaries are part of the City’s Fashion Development Programme, which is under the banner of the DFF. The programme provides skills development and access to market opportunities.
“We are proud to report that many programme participants are flourishing in the industry. Over 15 local designers now supply their collections to established national clothing retail chain stores such as Edgars and have opened their own boutiques. This has resulted in the creation of over 100 sustainable jobs. In total, over 300 fashion designers have benefited from the Fashion Development Programme since its inception in 2012,” said Mr Mabaso.
Vuyisile Ngobese from the Hollywood Foundation said they were happy to support the industry that desperately needed to be revived.
“The clothing and textiles industry has experienced several setbacks in recent years. It gives us so much pleasure to join forces with eThekwini Municipality and contribute towards the empowerment of fashion designers and entrepreneurs,” said Ms Ngobese.
