27/05/2015: Soweto Fashion Week May Edition
The May edition of Stephen Manzini’s Soweto Fashion Week is upon us [27 – 30 May 2015 at the Soweto Theatre in Bolani Road] and the City of Johannesburg’s Tourism Division is thrilled to once again be supporting this fabulous community-based event which is growing rapidly in size and stature.
Now celebrating its fifth birthday, the Soweto Fashion week is a spirited, lively affair celebrating the soul and flair of South Africa’s most iconic township – recognising, developing, nurturing fashion design, beauty industry and modelling talent and giving designers both a showcase and access to local and global markets.
In the few years since establishing this colourful, bi-annual event, as MD and Founder of the Soweto Fashion Week, Stephen Manzini, has been invited to take the fashions he shows to participate in fashion weeks in the United States and Europe. This year two of the designers he supports and who will be featured in his Autumn/Winter show, dressed the City’s Executive Mayor, Cllr Parks Tau, for the recent State of the City Address.
An entrepreneur at heart, Stephen believes his desire to learn more and grow through filling gaps he sees in the market comes from his father, who was also an entrepreneur. The Soweto Fashion Week is produced by Jericho Events, one of the companies Stephen founded and owns. He also owns technology companies and a recycling service company.
“I am passionate about what I do. The Show has grown in leaps and bounds and it’s only a matter of time before we really make our mark. Having started out in a small venue, we have graduated to a bigger one every year, with great success. Ultimately, our vision is to host the Soweto Fashion Week in a stadium, but we are taking this a step at a time, gaining more financial sponsorship support, as well as trust with the big retail brands. Currently running on two continents, it’s only a matter of time before we become a household name!” enthuses Manzini.
“Supporting an event of like the Soweto Fashion Week is important from an economic development perspective,” says Ruby Mathang, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development at the City of Johannesburg."
“Not only does it promote Joburg as a leading hub for fashion, design and retail, it also highlights the creativity and drive of its people and the opportunities which exist for economic development, job creation – and ultimately transformation and the ongoing creation and growth of a vibrant second economy.”
The Soweto Fashion Week [Autumn/Winter edition] takes place at the Soweto Theatre from 27 – 30 May 2015. Tickets can be bought online at R60.00 per person from www.sowetofashionweek.com
Soweto Fashion Week Background
In alignment with its strategy to continually identify opportunities to attract both business and leisure tourists to the City, Joburg Tourism has identified the Soweto Fashion Week as one of its strategic signature events to support, in an effort to attract more business and leisure tourists. Joburg Tourism started supporting the event November 2014 and the May event is scheduled for 27 – 30 May 2015.
Soweto Fashion Week (SFW) is an annual event taking place May and November showcasing winter and summer fashion. The event promotes young black fashion designers from local township areas, predominantly Soweto and designers from SADC and other African countries. Since its launch in October 2011, SFW has reached international status participating at Switzerland, Paris and Las Vegas. To date, SFW has 55 designers affiliated to the organisation, 30 have been developed from the streets and 25 are from colleges and training institutes.
The event makes a significant contribution to Johannesburg’s economy, especially in township areas. The theme for Soweto fashion week is African designs, using ethic fabrics coupled with jewellery, African hair styles and grooming products. The African hair industry in South Africa is a massive, largely informal industry and the Soweto Fashion Week assists in showcasing the significance of African designers and hair products in the City’s economy. This extends to related products including cosmetics, female and male grooming products and accessories and jewellery.
Released by: Laura Vercueil : PR & Communication Manager Johannesburg Tourism Company
Tel: +27 11 703 5327
Email: laurav@joburgtourism.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Info Line : 0860 333 999
