2016 Platinum Fashion Festival

Its that time of the year again... Fashion show time! Students are working night and day on their collections to make the Platinum Fashion Festival a success once more. As the show is a mere three weeks away we take a look at what the 2016 PFF entails. 

Platinum Fashion Festival Website

The Centurion Academy Hair Marathon.
12h00

Centurion Academy hair students and alumni collaborates with first years from NWSD to create an avant-garde hairstyle to go with their Style Tribe looks for the first year installations. Here with every hairstylist have 5 looks to style within 40 mins.
Free of Admission.

First Year's Fashion Installation.
13h00

NWSD first year students showcase their Style Tribe looks finished of with the hairstylist final touch. At this show the third years also showcase their 3D Designs, Part time students their Style Tribes looks and second years the Little Vintage Dress.

First Years Installation
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Front Row R120
Standard R80

Models Backstage

Second Year Couture Collections.

18h30

The second years show forms part of the grand event of the Platinum Fashion Festival. Second Years showcases their 4 look couture collections based on the theme Tribal Fusion" This shows includes a collection by Anel Botha, the principal surprise, guest designers 2016, bridal gowns, the Gert Johan Coetzee bursary announcement as well as prize giving.

Second Years Couture Collections
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Front Row R120
Standard R100

Third Years Ready-To-Wear Buyers Collections

Third years showcase their 10 look buyers collections to buyers, media, blogger, friends and family as part of their graduation. These collections are designed surrounding a precise target market and price point category making it possible for students to sell their garments to the public. Many of these garments will be available on our online store iWearNWSD as part of the "See-Now-Buy-Now'' project, where you could shop straight from the runway. The second years will also showcase their menswear and guest fashion comm student collections.

Third Years Buyers Collections

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Front Row R80

Standard R60

Media, Red Carpet and Networking

The Platinum Fashion Festival not only showcases the students work but is also filled with live entertainment, celebs, a networking lounge and a red carpet where photographers and media film an take photos. Here you can enjoy a drink, mingle with friends and network.

This year we are featuring a performance and Meet & Greet session with local artist and The Voice SA contestant  Almur Marais

Karla Bosh Singing at the PFF

Brutal Fruit "Slushie" Station

Interviews on the Red Carpet

Friends & Family on the Red Carpet

Simeon Kriel from "Alleen na December"
&
Outlaw Empire

The Voice star Almur Marais

Want to watch all three shows? We have the Platinum Package that includes all three shows at lower costs.

Platinum Fashion Festival Event

Book Now!

Standard R190

Don't miss this fashion event! Save the date...

5th November 2016

Third Years Internship Feedback

Our third years have returned from their internships and this is what they learned!

Duduzile

Intern Company: Sir Anthony.

Sir Anthony specializes in denim clothing. My duties here was, sewing, styling, cutting, patternmaking, image consulting, photography, modeling and being a PA. The biggest highlight and achievement on my internship was designing and making a jacket that got featured in Lifestyle Magazine. The Lifestyle Magazine is a platform for young local designers owned by Button & Dnepe.

Emmah Mulutsi

Intern Company: Anel Botha Couture

This year during winter I went to Anel Botha Couture for my Internship. I was able to earn a lot of experience and increased my knowledge and strengthen my resume’ .

Make an impact where I will work by asking for responsibility and looking for ways to achieve accomplishments. I did a lot of pattern manipulation, beading, sewing and cutting. I had the opportunity to meet different people. Laughed all day and have fun. I was able to make friends but most of all I was able to find a role model her name is Anel Botha.

THOLOFELO MORIBE

Intern Company: Ree-Joy

I ‘am Tsholofelo Agrippa Moribe a third year student at NWSD Completing year 3 of 4 Towards City & Guilds Level 4 Licentiateship in Fashion and I had an opportunity to intern at Ree-Joy Studio’s.It was an opportunity of a lifetime which I’m grateful and humbled by. I gained so much experience and  good relationship’s in the fashion industry. The owner and founder of Ree-Joy is a humble person who is known for her Ready to wear/Street style.

 

Lisa-Marie Homman

Intern Company: Eulogeo Zeloo Couture

As a fashion student, aspiring for success as a entrepreneur and designer, I am pleased to share my internship experience at Eulogeo Zeloo Couture. I grew so much in my knowledge about the fashion industry, learning business skills and customer relations. The founders, Jolandie Coetzee and Yolande Kruger, were such humble and outspoken mentors. I definitely have a new perspective on what running a business and designing garments entails. I loved experiencing the joy in the clients, as well as the team members during the design and consultation processes. I realized the impact of expressing the importance of a client’s presence to them. It is the next step to an outstanding designer. I certainly use all that I have learned with me in the future and plan to grow even more with my experience at Eulogeo Zeloo couture.

Lesedi Maphike

Intern Company: Eboka Designs

I embarked on an internship at a prominent, retail couture store in Rosebank Mall (Johannesburg). The brand that I worked for is Eboka Designs, founded by Fred Elu Eboka. It is an African elegance entity which specializes in custom-made garments, using a mix of ethnic narratives with contemporary influences. In a retail space, I was required to attend to clients, sort and clean garments, manage the store’s diary in terms of appointments and fittings; had a hand in visual merchandising as well as sharpen my artistic skills. I was also required to run errands, use the Gautrain to travel to Eboka’s design studio in Pretoria and back to Johannesburg. The experience was fulfilling and intriguing, to have gained interpersonal skills: working with people, building my self-esteem in the workplace and being a problem-solver.

Chantelle Labuschagne

Intern Company: Esmene’ Couture and LuLu Pops & Pants

DREAM BIG, WORK HARD AND STAY HUMBLE

Choosing Esmene Couture & LuLu Pops & pants was a great choice for me. I did not know whether i liked doing Couture or RTW more.

Learning from the best was a real honor in seeing how different elements in fashion can form a successful business whether it is sewing, selling pricing or doing label tags.

What i enjoy most of my internship was being part of the start-up operation of LuLu Pops & pants – seeing how a shop  creates a pattern to a full garment, punting tags & pricing them.

Esmene sells & design – kids clothing from new born to 9-10 (LuLu Pops & Pants) Evening dresses, wedding dresses, Lingerie, pageant wear, metric farewell dresses, Silver jewelery as well as Swarovski elements and so much more.

Khanyisile Magudulela

Intern Company : Thula Sindi

I interned at Thula Sindi in Rosebank and his studio in Johannesburg CBD

What I did mostly was to be a right hand to whoever needed my help. I was back and forth in between the two places doing deliveries and posting to various stores that carry his merchandise and to his private clients

I was mostly based at the store as he said my strong point is working with clients and bringing life into Thula Sindi store. I was also there to assist the different stylist and companies that source out the Thula Sindi clothes and make sure that when they come back they are in the same condition as before.

Bianca Van Zyl

Intern Company: Anel Botha Couture

Ever heard of that saying “ I didn’t choose my job it chose me.” That’s how I felt with this Internship. After getting assigned to this Internship I decided to make the best of it.

 Anel Botha is famous for her Bridal dresses but she has so much more to offer.

I was assigned this designer because she is usually the Instructor that gives the Bridal Course at NWSD, her idea was to write a manual that can be given to students that enroll in the bridal course, the manual would give her personal opinion and ideas on wedding dresses.

This gave me 6 weeks to finish a book which Anel was struggling to do in 2 years.

As I went into this Internship very narrow minded, I have surely learned how to change my prospective. The work place does not care whether you’re a Fashion Designer or a Fashion Communication Student, if you can get the job done properly then do it.

I was assigned to Manage the Miss South Africa Durban July project:

•From organizing shipping details for the garment.

•Too actually crystallizing this garment.

•And overseeing production on this garment.

•Sewing sashes for Miss Sa.

•Assisting with Huisgenoot  Tempo Toekenings & You Spectacular.

While at studio I also did some PA duties such as:

•Scheduling appointments.

•Making sure productions are on track.

•Giving co- workers their job responsibilities.

•Quality Control on garments entering and leaving the Couture Studio.

I also did:

•Appliquéing Lace work

•Cutting

•Crystallizing

•Window Designing

Last but not least:

•The Bridal Couture Book.

•Throughout this opportunity I have finished the Bridal Couture Book for NWSD , I have also secured a business relationship with Anel Botha.

•I continue to work for Anel when ever she needs my help or advice.

•I continue to give her trend report updates on the latest trends regarding, Bridal, Red Carpet as well as Ready to Wear.​

Joane Schoeman

Intern Company: Bianca Warren

Located in Durban @ The square in Umshlanga

 

She set up her brand 6 years ago. Bianca Warren is a proud South African and do of all her own designs, patterns and samples.

She supplies to a few SA boutiques. She has an agent in JHB that get’s her in markets and open days.

Her line is simple, effortless and commercial.

She use a variety of fabrics and loves to get Her inspiration from traveling.

Her focus is on woman's wear targeting all race and ages

Bianca Warren - Mission statement

“I am a local proudly SA brand that strives to grow weekly. I have dreams where I want to be and am working hard to achieve those dreams.  I believe there is a gap in the market for well made proud SA woman's wear that is on trend and affordable. I will strive to bring out weekly new designs to keep the niche market I have happy.

I learn a lot at my internship at Bianca Warren: I beaded a belt for a bride, was part of the fittings and meetings. I learn how to cover buttons and applicate lace to dresses

Tips that I have for students that’s going on there internships:

1.    Be friendly at all time

2.    Do any thing and every thing (if they say bead a belt you do it!!!)

3.    Cut hem using floor to make sure you cut straight

4.    Semi Finish dresses (No zip no hem) Only added when people fits the dress

5.    Work with everyone(Learning different skills from one another)

6.    Take a change

7.    Get out of your comfort zone

8.    Make NWSD Proud

Lorinda Richter

Intern Company: Esmené Couture.

I am currently a fashion design student, dreaming of one day running my own business, doing what I love for a living. As a small fish in a big pond, {A.K,A, the fashion industry}, I could not ask for a better experience to guide me, shining a bit more light on the path to success.

When starting on the first day, I had my expectations of what the experience would be like, but at the end of the internship, my expectations were highly exceeded.

I gain experience in what I love most, sewing. I also had the privilege to interact with customers, and work with an amazing team on the day of the big opening of her new studio and children’s wear shop.

I learned a lot of how a business is run, and had a Great example of what a leader should be like, being humble, as well as being strong when needed to be.

Esmené also gave me insight on the importance of the business name, and the connection the clients wants to make with not only the name, but when interacting with you.

The experience and knowledge I gained in my time at Esmené couture, I’ll most certainly will carry with me on the road to fulfill my dream.

Gert-Johan Coetzee Fashion Bursaries

Fashion bursaries worth R500 000 up for grabs 

via Gert-Johan Coetzee

Gert-Johan Coetzee is known for making the A-list steal the show at events such as the Durban July, but in between making glorious gowns, the designer is now searching for two new students to benefit from his three-year bursary programme. And after Coetzee challenged other businesses to invest in education, the luxury boutique Luminance has added a third bursary to the programme!

Applications have just opened for the 2017 GJC Fashion Design bursary and the brand-new GJC Fashion Communications and Buying bursary, valued at a total of R345 000. Coetzee’s fashion design bursary is already in its sixth year at the Northwest School of Design, but it is the first time that he is adding a Fashion Communications bursary, to accommodate students who are more interested in the business end of fashion. The latter qualification is also what the R170 000 Luminance Social Responsibility Grant will fund.

“The industry is really dynamic, and there are so many opportunities, which is why I decided to add a bursary for the more business-oriented qualification. It’s so hard to get your foot in the door and the aim of my bursary programme is to pass on what I have learnt, and to open doors for youngsters who have the talent and drive to succeed,” says Coetzee. He believes that the private sector has a responsibility to invest in the education of the next generation, and says he was “absolutely thrilled” when Judy Dlamini from Luminance, which stocks his couture, approached him to sponsor another Fashion Communication student. “This three-year qualification teaches the business end of fashion – from fashion journalism, marketing and trend forecasting, to buying, event management and online retail aspects,” explains the designer. Both bursaries include mentorship by Coetzee, and the opportunity to intern at his atelier to learn the business from the inside out. The beneficiary of the Luminance Social Responsibility Grant will have a similar opportunity to intern at Luminance. Says Dlamini, "We’re looking for someone who is driven to succeed in fashion and business and willing to learn…. A good academic record is important to us since it shows discipline, determination and hard work.”

Coetzee also has a very clear idea what he’ll be looking out for. “Success will only come if you have an inborn fashion instinct and are extremely passionate about it. I am looking for students who are as singleminded about fashion as I was at that age, youngsters who are driven, dedicated and not afraid of hard work."

All three the lucky applicants will receive sewing machines from Bernina, worth a total of R45 000, and all their tuition fees and study materials will be covered for the three years of their course. Both courses offer students the chance to progress to a licentiateship, the highest international fashion qualification in South Africa. Northwest School of Design is an international fashion college approved by City & Guilds of London. 

“I am extremely proud of the talented group who make up the GJC bursary team at NWSD, and I expect great things of them,” says Coetzee. Last year’s graduate, Prudence Kau, is currently interning full-time at his atelier, on a fourth-year fellowship from another of the designer’s associates, Brutal Fruit. “Prudence is working on her first collection for Brutal Fruit at the moment while she is completing her licentiateship, and it’s a privilege to be able to mentor a young star in the making.”

For more information on how to apply for the Gert-Johan Coetzee bursaries and the Luminance Social Responsibility Grant, visit www.nwsd.co.za ENDS

Media information: Shaw Media: Melinda@shawmedia.co.za 082 3766035