African Fashion International (AFI) has announced the winners of its Fastrack™ programme following the March 2016 fashion extravaganza at Nelson Mandela Square.
The womenswear collection by Chesney Williams
The winners of the Joburg Autumn/Winter Fastrack™ programme are Velly Maswanganye, Sibusiso ‘Buda’ Malete, Chesney Williams, and Tayla Shan Nguskos.
Fastrack™ is an initiative that identifies and fosters the most promising design talent on the African continent. AFI welcomes applications from young designers, whether they are design-school graduates or not, from across the continent at the start of the annual AFI Fastrack™ programme, with submissions being judged by an expert panel at each stage of the programme.
Sibusiso-Malete-collection
Ten finalists are chosen from among the submissions, each tasked with designing a collection to take to the runway during a Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Four winners are chosen from each show, after which they are paired with a well-established designer in a four-month mentorship programme.
Tayla-Shan-Nguskos-collection
During this time the young designers will learn more about the fashion design process, and gain a deeper understanding of consumer demand, trend forecasting and merchandising. They will also learn more about the costing process as well as wholesale and retail pricing strategies, and gain a basic understanding of marketing and brand amplification. Being exposed to basic business management skills like stock control, supplier contracts and basic business practices will add to their priceless toolkit, along with an understanding of in-house and outsourced production and quality control.
