In partnership with the National Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC) and Proudly South African, the iGoda Incubator recently hosted a fashion fair and celebrated their most recent graduates at the uMhlanga Arch Legacy Yard on Thursday, 14 November.
Founder and Managing Director of iGoda Incubator, Zola Shabangu, said that this event celebrated their students’ graduation and their designs which will be tradable through digital platforms such as Shopify and Takealot. “The graduation will also provide a platform for people to see new designs and learn more about the new designers. This also provided us with an opportunity to attract sponsor’s such as BMW and allow us to showcase our designs alongside their vehicles,” Shabangu said.s.
Shabangu said that since 2016, iGoda Incubator aimed at providing opportunities for those who can’t attain the “hyped jobs” like science or mathematics. Additionally, there are many creatives who don’t get such opportunities due to not attaining minimum university entry requirements. “People are wearing clothes everyday. Why are we entertaining international brands instead of having our own shops with our own brands exclusively,” she added.
One of the graduates, Founder and Creator of Clay From Scratch, Manqoba Mnguni shared that being part of the fashion show left him speechless and filled with jubilation. Mnguni added, “What I have learnt since becoming a designer three years ago is patience. One needs to be patient with their efforts and if you fail, consistently try again,” he said.
DSAC Chief Director of Cultural Development Masana Chikeka, said that they’ve been involved with iGoda Incubator for the past four years and said that this partnership forms part of their mandate on job creation and skills development. Chikeka said, “iGoda has been capacitating young designers in fashion from manufacturing to design to production. They have also helped the graduates find their niche and assisted with job creation.”
Chikeka said the Department was proud of the project as they have also collaborated and supported stores such as Edgars, Shopify and Takealot.
Proudly South African Chief Marketing Officer Happy MaKhumalo Ngidi emphasised the importance of the clothing sector within the South African economy especially given how South Africans love to dress. She added, “As a country, we don’t have enough jobs and even the private sector won’t be able to absorb every graduate, so what happens to the rest of the youth? Our mandate is to remind South Africans to buy and support local.”
In total, 20 designers from the iGoda Incubator programme graduated during this fair.
