Who is a Fashion Designer?
Fashion designers sketch designs of clothing, footwear, and accessories. Fashion designers create original clothing, accessories, and footwear.
They sketch designs, select fabrics and patterns, and give instructions on how to make the products they design.
Top Fashion Designers In South Africa
Amanda Laird Cherry
Amanda Laird Cherry is a much-loved South African fashion label that produces beautiful apparel for both women and men.
Durban-based designer Amanda studied clothing design and gained ample experience in the industry before launching her own label. Her items have been exhibited at London Fashion Week and can be found in The Space stores nationwide as well as online at SPREE.
Michelle Ludek
Michelle Ludek is another icon on the list of the richest fashion designers in South Africa. The latter has a history in North America where she earned her skill in commercial fashion design.
Her style stands out as it varies from netty sweaters to lazy shift dresses. She is more into the chic kind of style.
Nkhensani Nkosi (Stoned Cherrie)
Stoned Cherrie was established in 2000 and has, since then, become one of the most notable fashion labels in South Africa. The brand is especially known for its quirky use of crochet and pop-art style images of South African icons, like Steve Biko.
The label draws inspiration from the Afro-urban lifestyle and founder Nkhensani Nkosi succeeded in creating an African brand that celebrates the country’s sense of identity in a creative way.
Laduma Ngxokolo’s
MaXhosa Laduma hails from the Xhosa community, and as a result, he draws inspiration for his style from his cultural background. His style is distinct as it comes out in the form of abstract patterns in his knitwear.
He is one of the few designers in the fashion world in South Africa who have chosen to do things locally by buying some of the locally available materials for his line.
Mzukisi Mbane (Imprint)
The Cape Town-based label was established in 2011 by Mzukisi Mbane under the name Swagger Diariez. Mbane started off without any formal training and only his mother’s sewing machine.
Today, Imprint is a clothing brand that fuses South African streetwear with vintage designs. The label strives to live up to its name with an ethos of “leaving a mark” through its designs.
Jacques van der Watt (Black Coffee)
Jacques van der Watt flawlessly incorporates traditional South African design patterns into his modern creations and pays a large amount of attention to detail.
Van der Watt showed his first collection at South African Fashion Week in 1999 and since then his label has become synonymous with cutting-edge, local fashion design.
Black Coffee is mainly characterized by its structural designs combined with complex shapes, and the installation shows are often hosted at unusual venues, such as Constitution Hill in Johannesburg.
Cari Stephenson
Cari Stephenson is another designer based in Cape Town’s business world South Africa and the brains behind Tart Designs. Her style is a little different from the rest as she expresses her creativity through ethnic prints and classic silhouettes.
The best term that could be used to describe her style is simple but sophisticated. The other thing that makes the line stand out is its color scheme that is eclectic.
Anisa Mpungwe (Loin Cloth & Ashes)
Loin Cloth & Ashes was launched in 2008 by Johannesburg-based fashion designer Anisa Mpungwe, who designs modern clothing with an African twist. Her items are all inspired by African traditions and the people that inhabit the country, which ensures that her designs are completely unique.
In 2010, Anisa showed at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York and her store in Maboneng is perfect if you’re after a stand-out outfit.
Bongiwe Walaza
Bongiwe Walaza is the perfect definition of ‘the apple does not fall away from the tree. The latter learned the skill from her mother who was a seamstress. She perfected it and ended up becoming the international designer that she is.
She has worked with textile companies like Da Gama Textiles which are notable for producing shweshwe fabric. The fabric has a great influence on her design as her style is described as earthy.
David Tlale
The David Tlale label has received international recognition and is a favorite among South African celebs and socialites.
In 2009 David Tlale was awarded Fashion Designer of the Year at the Africa Fashion Awards in Johannesburg. In 2011 he presented a collection titled “Made In The City” which celebrated Nelson Mandela’s 92nd birthday.
Who is a famous South African fashion designer?
Gert-Johan Coetzee (born 18 November 1987), is a South African fashion artist.
Who are the high-end designers in South Africa?
Among the most prominent designers from South Africa are David Tlale, Gert-Johan Coetzee, Clive Rundle, Marianne Fassler, Laduma Ngxokolo, Gavin Rajah, Abigail Betz, and several others.
Does fashion designer make money in South Africa?
The average fashion designer’s salary in South Africa is R 180 000 per year or R 92.31 per hour. Entry-level positions start at R 150 000 per year, while most experienced workers make up to R 243 000 per year.
What qualifications do I need to be a fashion designer in South Africa?
What are the requirements to study fashion design?
- Either a National Senior Certificate (NSC), FET Level 4 certificate, Grade 12, recognized equivalent qualification certified by Umalusi, or international equivalent examination board.
- A minimum achievement rating code of three in four recognized NSC 20-credit subjects.
- A minimum achievement rating code of three in English Home Language or English First Additional Language or English Second Additional Language.
- A letter of motivation.
- A portfolio of creative evidence.
Where do fashion designers study in South Africa?
Schools and universities that offer fashion design in South
- The Design School Southern Africa (DSSA)
- North West School of Design.
- SEWAFRICA.
- Vega School.
- Elizabeth Galloway Academy of Fashion Design.
- INSCAPE.
- UberGlam School of Fashion Design.
- Damelin.
Where can I study fashion buying in South Africa?
The School of Fashion, formerly LISOF is the only South African Fashion school internationally accredited with the British Accreditation Council (BAC).
Our alumni populate the world in the exciting world of fashion design, fashion media and within the dynamic fashion buying and business industries.
WHAT ARE THE SUBJECTS THAT MAKE UP FASHION DESIGN?
- Pattern Making
- Textiles
- Garment construction
- Fashion illustration
- Fashion and design
- Fashion business
- Fashion ornamentation
- Fashion management
- Fashion Merchandising
- Computer-aided designing (CAD)
- Fashion marketing
- Clothing culture
- Communication
WHAT ARE THE FASHION DESIGN COURSE OPTIONS?
Fashion design is an all-encompassing course with many interesting facets, but depending on your needs and budget, there are different course options within this particular field.
While you don’t necessarily require a formal education to enter the field, it provides you with a massive head start, fantastic grounding and incredible networking opportunities when you do study it through a reputable institution. The options available include:
- Bachelor of Fashion Degree
To study this, you will need a National Senior Certificate or equivalent certification which is at least a 30% pass for English with a 50-59% in four other subjects.
- Diploma in Fashion
This also require a National Senior Certificate or equivalent with a 30% English pass and 40-49% in four other subjects.
- Non-degree courses
If you’re looking for something to build your CV or personal skills, then a non-degree course in fashion is the one to consider. You would still need a National Senior Certificate or equivalent to apply for these courses.
- Short courses
If you haven’t completed matric, then you can opt for a short course in fashion design. For this, you will need to have a Grade 7 completion, and may require certain skill sets such as sewing.