SOUTH AFRICAN FASHION & CULTURE WEEK LONDON (SAFACW)

The first ever South Africa Fashion & Culture Week (SAFACW) will be held in London on Saturday 6th September 2014 at the Banking Hall, Cornhill, London EC3V 3DN.

The Show will bring together exciting and emerging talents of fashion designers from South Africa with the long term objective of establishing a Fashion & Culture Week to showcase South African fashion and accessories. The SAFACW Show will provide a platform to promote South Africa's trade and tourism, and will also act as a cultural exchange programme between the UK and South Africa.

The main ethos of SAFACW is youth development and the event is aimed at creating a highly successful and entertaining show of one day, with workshops for young designers to train them to build a successful fashion business and brand reputation.

The inaugural show will feature eight young designers from South African who have been selected for their outstanding achievement in the fashion industry in South Africa to give them exposure to global markets.

Produced by Pilyvan Consulting, SAFACW is working closely with the South African High Commission, with support from the UK Trade & Industry and the Office of the London Mayor.

On the youth development aspect of the event, the SAFACW is working in collaboration with Central St Martins, the University of the Arts London, and London College of Beauty Therapy.

St Martins have offered to provide two workshops for the young designers from South Africa who will meet with students from St Martins to network and share experiences. The South African young designers will also be given an opportunity to understand the London fashion industry and important aspects of fashion business development. As part of the training, South African young designers will be taken on “Bootcamp” to visit some of the key retail outlets at the heart of the London Fashion scene to learn the tricks of the trade and to equip them with the necessary skills required to run a successful fashion business.

The London College of Beauty Therapy has offered to supply all the make-up. In addition, as part of their final year experience students from the London College of Beauty Therapy will work with the models to prepare them for the Show. The students will also offer beauty therapy consultancy to attendees of the Show.

The inaugural Show on the 6th September 2014 will only be for one day. However, it is hoped that the SAFACW can become an annual event, which would be held over a period of one week in future shows. The programme for this year's show is scheduled as follows:

Saturday 6th September 2014
13:00 hours Networking reception and photograph session with complimentary canapés and sparkling wine on arrival;

14:00 hours Opening of Show with a mixture of fashion showcase of designs and entertainment;

17:00 hours Interval – a chance to sample South African produce and view the exhibits on display;

18:30 hours Show continues with a mixture of showcase of designs and entertainment;

21:30 hours End of Show with interval to sample more South African produce and view the exhibits on display; and

22:30 hours After Party – strictly by invitation.
In future, the SAFACW plan to organise a Fashion Designers Competition in South Africa, to select the best young fashion designers from each of the nine Provinces of South Africa, and bring them to participate in SAFACW Shows in London.

For Press Accreditation, sponsorship and more information:

Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Tel: Pily 07789 885777 or Kevan 07957 811824
Website: www.safacw.com