North West school of design has brought forth excellence in the designers that have attended NWSD. They set off to show their talent, creativity and passion. As this is one of the most busiest seasons for matric farewell end year functions, North West School Of Design students are in demand. We are proud as a school to see our alumni students work to perfect their talents and its our duty to congratulate them on their hard work.
Itumeleng (Mercia) Ramagaga
owner of Deep Moon Emporium and #NwsdAlumni Featured on Making Moves 27 min in you could view the Interview with Itumeleng.
Read highlights if the interview here:
Siya Mdlalose – Presenter
S.Mdlalose: Today I’ll be spending the day with our featured
entrepreneur in Rustenburg. Her name is Mercia. Mercia sells clothes that she
makes herself. Let’s go talk to her and hear how her business of clothing is
doing.
M.Ramagaga: Hi.
S.Mdlalose: Good morning.
M.Ramagaga: How are you?
S.Mdlalose: I’m well and yourself?
M.Ramagaga: I’m well.
S.Mdlalose: I’m Siya from Making Moves.
M.Ramagaga: I’m Itumeleng. Welcome.
S.Mdlalose: Thank you very much. I like what I see. Your clothes are
stunning.
M.Ramagaga: We do our best.
S.Mdlalose: Take me back to where it all started. How has the journey
been?
M.Ramagaga: My journey started when I was doing my final year at North
West School of Design. When I was writing my final year exams, I was already
getting orders for weddings. Our exams were from 8 am until 8 pm so, after my
exams, I would get home and continue making the dresses. Then I would need to
prepare for my exams the following day. The good thing about it is that I met
my deadlines. That’s when I knew that I can run the business because I can work
under pressure.
These are some of my garments.
My own work. We have our own studio at the back, we work from here.
S.Mdlalose: Setting up a business like this doesn’t seem inexpensive?
M.Ramagaga: No, it’s not.
S.Mdlalose: How much money did you need to make sure that you get
things in place?
M.Ramagaga: You don’t need capital to start a business because you can
start with an order that has been placed. They can pay you a deposit. I sold
the garments that I made for the graduation fashion show for R800. That’s how I
started my business! I started with that R800.
This is where we do our work.
You can tell by the sewing machines in there. We start with the pattern of your
garment. Shoni is busy with a pattern for the garment, after it has been cut,
we do a straight stitch. From the straight stitch, you overlock. After they are
done here. It goes for the button holes that side.
S.Mdlalose: How many staff members do you have?
M.Ramagaga: I have Skha, the seamstress, I have other two part time
seamstresses, then Katlego that does embroidery and also helps in front. Then I
have Shoni. Shoni is doing her Licentiateship in Fashion. I take students from
tertiary institutes for internships and practical.
Skha Luphahla – Emloyee
S.Luphahla: I do a lot of sewing here. Mercia cuts the cloth. I then
join and overlock. Then I finish off the garment. Mercia is a bubbly person but
when it comes to work, she’s very serious.
Masello Senne – Client
M.Senne: I heard about Deep Moon through a friend in 2014. We were
in Jo’burg and I wanted an outfit for the opening of the North West Legislation,
so, I was referred to Mercia. She’s the best! The outfit I’m wearing today was
done by Deep Moon. This was the first outfit she made for me. Her outfits are
out of this world. They are unique.
S.Mdlalose: Your ladies and gents are well trained.
M.Ramagaga: This is where we do our rehearsals. These are our catwalk
models. Some of them are photoshoot models, but for practicing posture, I tell
them to come in. We have other models that aren’t here today. We have about 50
to 60 models in our agency.
S.Mdlalose: Thank you for your time. We have learned a lot about Deep
Moon. I saw your beautiful garments. The amazing work that you do in empowering
the youth. We’ll meet at the studio.
M.Ramagaga: Thank you. Yes, we’ll meet at the studio.
IWearNWSD : Fashion flair from our runway to your closet
Where Garments walk directly from the runway into the online store
IWearNWSD is the first online shop in South Africa started by a tertiary education institution that offers quality clothing shopping from the comfort of your own home. The North West School Of Design has created this retail platform for it's students who showcase their collections at the annual Platinum Fashion Festival. North West School Of Design Alumni can also benefit from Iwear NWSD as a cosignatory retail platform.
IWearNWSD already gives design students of this prestigious college a toe in the pool as it promotes these talented emerging designers, Not only does it promote current fashion design students, but also its Alumni as established or emerging fashion brands. With Collections from well known NWSS Alumni Such as Anel Botha and Kobus Rautenbach, this online store promises to be a chiffarobe that will even have the stars at it's doorstep.
This store's mission and objectives walks hand in hand with the college's mission and objectives. North West School Of Design has as its mission to be a college for Christian Tertiary Education that shows distinction and excellence, striving towards and piloting fashion training in South Africa and neighboring countries, IWearNWSD aligns well with these objectives, being the first of it's kind in fashion training.
iWear NWSD is an online store planned, managed and administrated by North West School of Design Fashion Communication & Buying Students. iWearNwsd therefore creates an ongoing realistic, fashion related project to enable
Fashion-Comm students with the necessary tools and experience for their Licentiateship In Fashion exam and for relevant industry experience. Fashion-Comm students will get to use profits made through sales, to fund their vocational tours and research.
The Platinum Fashion Festival hosted by the North West School Of Design, has as it's initial goal, to turn thius fashion college's annual graduation fashion show into an official fashion event with the aim of bringing together the North West's Leading Influencers , designers, and fashion followers, in style and extravagance. The Platinum Fashion Festival provides A Platform for creative designers to showcase their talent, boost their confidence, and develop collections that were developed on market and trend research as well as a realistic industry related conceptualising processes. Student designers are able to make industry contacts and to network with South African Fashion Leaders, Buyers and Media. Garments showcased at this show will directly walk from the runway into the online store.
Behind the scenes of the Platinum Fashion Festival, design students are fitting and altering garments, ready for their big debut. Models queue up to get their hair and make-up done, moving stylishly to the dressing rooms. A s a buzz stirs up outside, students start to dress the models in evening couture, ready to wear collections and Avant Garde creations.
I WearNWSD also has a behind the scenes moment or two of it's own. From the surveys sent out to various people to decide the perfect name for the store, to the stylist lying on the floor to flare a dress out on the mannequin while the photographer searches for the perfect angle. Passion and authenticity is what lies behind IWearNWSD along with Hard Work, perseverance, and diligence. The Public only see the final garment on the runway, but few know about the hard work and dedication that goes into a design. That is why IWearNWSD will be producing quality garments, friendly service and customer satisfaction for every shopper out there.
The Platinum Fashion Festival 2015 is taking things to
another level. This two day fashion fair and extravaganza not only hosts 4
shows, a food fair, design fair and loads of live performances, but also will
feature Avante Garde creations showcased by the NWSD Alumni.
North West School of Design and the organizers of the Platinum
Festival is inviting all alumni to create an Avante Garde look to the theme –
Renaissance Affair which will be showcased during the PFF Ancient World Installation,
Friday 6 November @ 19h00.
Introducing the 2015 Platinum Fashion Festival
For
more details on the fashion festival and program see
2014
1st year Avante garde fashion installation by designer Samu Nhlapo
As
a alumni all your questions are answered below;
1.Q: What costs are involved in participating to the
fashion festival?
A: There will be no charges for you to take part in the collection showcase
2.Q: Okay now I’m interested what should I do now?
A:
Great, once you are interested you need to email Marlene Oosthuizen of North
West school of design at nwsd@gds.co.za to arrange and confirm the participation.
Another
1st year Avante grade fashion instillation by designer Tshepo Montingoe.
3.Q: what about the model?
A:
You can chose any celebrity model of your choice to showcase your collection,
once you’ve found and contacted them, please kindly inform Marlene Oosthuizen
about the arrangement. The Alumni
collection is the highlight of the Ancient World Installation as the show is
ended with the Alumni-Celebrity looks.
The celeb model will then, as the show ends, go directly to the red
carpet media platform for tv, blogger and press media interviews and
photos. Your celeb model can also at
this stage be available for photos with fans!
Celeb
model include actors, performers, reality show celebs and significant / high
status pageant title holders.
4.Q: what about the theme, fabric and styling of the
collections?
A:
The overall PFF theme for 2015 is Pinnacles
of fashion, Past, Present and future.
Your Avante Garde (Showpiece) forms part of the Ancient World Installation
and your design is Renaissance Affair. Remember
this will be Avante Garde collections as extravagant as possible, with a good
balance of creativity, innovation and use of technical skill!
You
have total creative control of the styling and make up of your look. You can arrange with the PFF styling team to
do the styling and make up or you are welcome to do this yourself. If you wish to bring your own celeb stylist
then please inform Marlene about this.
2014
1st year Avante garde fashion installation by designer Rebaone Malane
5.Q: where and how will the fittings take place?
A:
you need to arrange the fittings you with the model, Marlene will be available
for assistance if needed, but since you are a professional designer, we know
that you can manage your own fittings and quality control.
6.Q: When and how do I submit my work?
A; You can send photographed images of your
final look and email this to Marlene during the week leading up to the
event. You will take your gowns and
model to the dressing room on Friday 6 November, at 17h00. A dressing room pass will be allocated to you
for pick up at the Information Centre between 9h00 and 17h00 on Friday 6
November.
