The eThekwini Municipality’s Fashion Development Programme has been so successful that a new group of ten fashion designers will undergo a two months international fashion internship at SAE Comunicazione Integrata in Milan, Italy early next year (2014) to sharpen their skills.
Sindi Shangase, Project Manager with the Municipality’s Business Support, Tourism and Markets Unit, said this comes after the Municipality was impressed with the feedback from last year’s participants and decided to expand the project.
She said this programme is intended to expose local designers to skills to help them ensure the sustainability of their businesses.
“This is the third group that the Municipality is sending to Italy. Last year, we sent ten and in 2011 we sent six, and this proven track record accurately confirms our commitment in developing local fashion designers.”
Deputy Mayor Nomvuzo Shabalala said she was very happy about the standard of this year’s Durban Fashion Fair because the designers have already started to implement what they learnt in Italy.
“It was clear evident that this internship is working. We will continue to support the fashion industry because it underscores the eThekwini Municipality’s commitment to provide opportunities and inspiration for our young talent to be more creative and remain in Durban so that they will also play a role in creating jobs and growing our economy,” she said.
The names of the ten selected designers who will be financed by the Municipality to go to Italy will be announced at a function at Coastlands on the Ridge on Thursday, 21 November 2013.
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