On supporting local design talent - LOUDLY

Judite busy at SIES!studio

In the past couple of months there has been a spark; a glimmer of light and we need to feed this. Local design talent is amazing; I’m not just blowing my own horn - have you seen what is out there? We have such a wide ranging spectrum of creatives that are working so hard, not just to make their own name and grow their own brand, but to create sustainable jobs, develop and transfer skills. We are known as a nation of entrepreneurs and creatives generally end up having to be entrepreneurs because we are so notoriously hard to employ, but we need to support one another if we want to develop and grow this movement.

In the clothing industry one of the opening whinges is that “we don’t have nice fabric”, “we don’t have the skills” or “that technology is too expensive”. The only way we are going to be able to have nice things is if we grow the industry to such a degree that the need is felt and filled by some other entrepreneurial spirit. In order to get there we need to support one another and do so LOUDLY.

I hate pictures of myself; as a designer I prefer to hide behind my clothing letting it be my face, but I've committed to taking selfies of my outfits as regularly as possible; tagging designers whose clothing I wear and using the appropriate hashtags #twinktwice #lovezabuyza.  The goal behind this is to generate awareness around locally designed and created beautiful things.

I've have been posting, and will continue to do so, pictures of this adventure Instagram and occasionally sharing the initiatives on Facebook. I encourage you to join the movement, thank you for supporting local talent, but I urge you to broadcast it so that other will follow and that we can create awareness for the beautiful things that are sculpted in this country.

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Zumae hand crafting a handbag for #SAFW

Dress by @anmarihoniball and fern pendant by @suikerbosjewellery

@SIESisabelle dress @wildcharm.co.za leather bracelets and feather earring by @cybersass

Dress by @kottinandtwille and ceramic pendant by @wildcharm.co.za