8 AFI Fastrack Designer Development Programme: Celebrating Kgotsofalo Mohau Monyamate Kgotsofalo Mohau Monyamate, a Master’s student in Design (Fashion stream) and part-time lecturer in the Department of Fashion, recently participated in the AFI Fastrack Designer Development Programme. This esteemed initiative, launched by the African Fashion International (AFI) and founded by Dr Precious Motsepe, serves as a fashion designer incubator and competition aimed at nurturing emerging talent in the fashion industry. The Fastrack Programme provides a platform for budding designers to showcase their creativity to diverse audiences, both within South Africa and internationally. Participants gain invaluable skills and experience, propelling their careers to the next level. Throughout the programme, designers receive comprehensive training in various aspects of running a sustainable fashion business, including research, presentations, marketing, and sales. They are also presented with design challenges that encourage them to combine their unique skills with the expertise facilitated by the programme. The AFI Fastrack Designer Development Programme culminated in the AFI Fastrack Prize event, where designers showcased their work to industry experts, public figures, fashion enthusiasts, family, and friends. Esteemed judges, including renowned stylist Felipe Mazibuko and Sunday Times editor Aspasia Karras, evaluated the designs presented. Kgotsofalo Mohau Monyamate showcased his new collection under his fashion brand Articles From Mars, titled ‘Is’khothane Somhlaba’. This collection featured elements inspired by the South African cultural phenomenon of Ubukhothane. Mr Monyamate’s outstanding garment design, construction, rationale presentation skills, and his ability to research and solve problems throughout the programme earned him the Innovation and Creativity Award — a significant achievement, as it is the first of its kind since the programme’s inception in 2011.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjU1NDYx