Gauteng Fashion Council to boost local fashion industry
12 November 2015
The recently formed Gauteng Fashion Council (GFC) established its Johannesburg arm at Metro Centre – the City of Johannesburg’s head office in Braamfontein – on Thursday November 11 in a new move to help nurture and support local fashion designers and grow the industry.
Founded earlier this year, the GFC is a registered non-profit organisation currently run by an interim board of directors consisting of fashion stalwart JJ Schoeman, Mzansi Fashion Emporium owner Lesego Malatsi, Sun Goddess brand owner Vanya Mangaliso, designer David Tlale and fashion expert Bontlefeela. The GFC will be officially launched in January 2016.
On Thursday role-players in the clothing, textile, leather and footwear sectors met at Metro Centre to establish the local arm of the GFC and elect its local representatives.
The forum will engage in programmes, projects and other industry-related issues to ensure that the sector and its entire value chain in Johannesburg prosper. This was the last regional roadshow to be held since the establishment of the council.
Franscina Ntsimane of the Gauteng Department of Economic Development said her department was “focused on developing the enormous potential of Gauteng’s fashion industry”.
“By establishing the GFC, local talent stands to benefit from the advantage of being able to lobby for funds from the South African Fashion Council and the department for projects and programmes that will develop the quality and quantity of local designs. As South Africans, we need to take the lead in the African industrial revolution and, in order to make local industries prosper, we need to be coordinated and organised,” said Ntsimane.
“We aim to boost job creation by encouraging and growing the industry as well as the value chain. The GFC, as a representative body of clothing, textile, leather and footwear sector role-players, will be a crucial link between the sector and government departments as well as the South African Fashion Council to ensure that benefits are directed back into the sector,” said Ntsimane.
Hangwani Nengovhela and Thabani Mavundla were elected as representatives of the GFC in Johannesburg.
The GFC can be contacted on email info@gautengfashioncouncil.co.za.