Fashioning Modern Africanism

WATCH four emerging designers compete for the sought-after title of AFI Fastrack - Young Designer of the Year 2021. This six-part mini-series provides an inside-look into the workings of the South African fashion industry, with designers participating in three challenges to win the creative affections of viewers - their most crucial judge.   Airing weekly on YouTube, every Monday and Tuesday from 6 December until 21 December, African Fashion International (AFI) presents a thrilling stand-off of fashion. Young designers are competing for a share of a total cash prize of R100 000, with the winner taking 50% and the remainder shared amongst the runners-up as start-up capital to invest in their brand and an exclusive retail opportunity with AFI’s House of Nala concept store.   Challenging designers to stretch their creativity toward trends that reflect our current climate, the Fastrack runway is a showcase of affordable sustainability, power looks that embolden an evolving work-life balanc

South Africa’s number 1 vodka brand, Smirnoff 1818, has extended the deadline for entries into its female DJ search competition - Shaya Ingoma, launched in October 2021. Now, local female DJs (disc jockeys) have until Monday, 14 February 2022, to enter the Smirnoff 1818 Shaya Ingoma competition. The competition was initially going to end in November, however the sheer level of talent that has entered already inspired Smirnoff 1818 to give more up-and-coming DJs the opportunity to participate by extending the closing date to 14 February 2022. While the female DJ landscape in South Africa is on the rise, according to the FUSION 2021 Interim Modelled Update research there is still a wide gender gap within this sphere of the music industry, and it’s clear that it is not because of any lack of talent. The barriers to entry for women are deeply entrenched, making it much harder for women to break through this male-dominated industry. Several factors contribute to these barriers, such as bias