03
FEDISA Fashion Bursaries
06
Fashion In A Digitized World
10
FEDISA, A Cut Above The Rest
14
2020, What A Year!
REDPRESS FEDISA FASHION STORIES
Photo by: CALISTA DA LUZ | Nominated as the best photograph of 2020
WWW.FEDISA.CO.ZA
2020 3rd EDITION
2 Some of the articles of this newspaper were written by FEDISA’s Diploma Fashion Journalism students from first, second and third year. The images form part of their Fashion Styling and Computer Aided Design assignments. Many more assignments were created along the year following other subjects of the Diploma course such as: Design History, Trend Analysis, Fashion Buying and Sourcing, Fashion Retail Management, Store Layout and Display, Brand Building and Advertising and Fashion Media Studies. PUBLISHED BY FEDISA (Pty) 81 Church Street 8001 Cape Town www.fedisa.co.za EDITOR & DESIGNER: Liesl van Staden PROOF READER: Marinella Avvakoumides, Allen Leroux, Megan Vermooten, Jessica Burgess BRAND MANAGER: Luke Caldecott
NAVIGATING ACADEMICS AMIDST A GLOBAL PANDEMIC 2020 - a year which up until March, appeared to be well on track. None of us could have anticipated what lay ahead after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the nationwide lockdown on March 26. MARINELLA AVVAKOUMIDES ACADEMIC DIRECTOR - FEDISA
A few hours after the national address, FEDISA’s management team mapped out a strategic plan which would allow for staff to work from home and for academics to continue unaffected. FEDISA’s academic staff revised their planning and converted all course content for an online learning in the space of just four days. Despite the various challenges presented by lockdown where initial restrictions limited access to even the most basic of stationery items, Term 2 was successfully navigated. There remained but some of the practical components of the BA programme, which required catch-up on campus during the June / July holidays.
CONTRIBUTORS Articles: Marinella Avvakoumides, Allen Leroux, Dana Troskie, Emily McMahon, Jamie Charles, Marize Bolton, Kim Gush, Liesl van Staden
Throughout this period, industry remained in full support and continued to engage the various collaborations with FEDISA already planned for the year. Lockdown also presented a new opportunity, seeing FEDISA network in ways never seen before. ZOOM, a platform most of us had no prior experience with, became the go-to place for FEDISA online webinars and such virtual engagements allowed an array of fashion industry experts to share their stories with the students from all over the world. Soon after settling into a ‘new normal’, lockdown fatigue started to take its toll on many of us. It was then that FEDISA reached out to counsellor Janine Rabiossi who graciously
offered her services to staff and students via ZOOM throughout the lockdown period. Mental well-being soon became of paramount importance for all educators amidst the global pandemic and that is when national agency Higher Health stepped in to assist universities and colleges offering health, wellness and psychosocial services to support youths across the country. Term 3 saw a rotational return to campus of select students, and classes took the form of socially distanced sessions, while theoretical subjects remained online for the rest. Those unable to return to campus, continued to navigate their studies from their homes. In true FEDISIAN style, students even hustled to courier their practical work in time for assessment from other countries. FEDISA students welcomed a much needed break in September
IMAGE BY: MICK CREATIVE (2019)
before gearing up for the final academic term, which was completed with great effort on both the staff and student’s part. If nothing more, 2020 has been an incredible learning experience for every single FEDISIAN. As this year draws to a close, one can certainly say that navigating a pandemic and coming out of it on the other side is testament to the resilience of character within us all.
MEET SHARRAZAR RYDER In June this year, FEDISA welcomed a new member of staff. Meet Sharrazar Ryder, FEDISA Cape Town’s Head of Security and Morale. Ryder is available for hugs and cuddles if anyone is feeling a little blue.
Photography: Calista Da Luz, MICK CREATIVE, Margaret Olwoch, Dieter van den Bergh, Bigthinx, Natasha Rousseau, Shae Thunder, Tasmin Pretorius, Blessing Manana, Ruby Maré, Tayla Lerena, Kaywin Du Plessis, Kirsten Lee Howell, Simone Tredoux, Justine Doo, Chiara Trecastelli, Cassidy Enslin, Ana Carla Telo, Demi Tayla Felix, Hannah Parkins, Hlogi Precious Mahlabe, Kelly Bryce DISCLAIMER: While every effort is made to ensure the proper research, correctness and accuracy of all content, the publisher takes no responsibility for errors, incorrectness or omissions by students during the research and writing of their articles. All images used are students’ original images and have been accepted in good faith that all permissions were granted.
IMAGE BY: FEDISA (2020)
IMAGE BY: FEDISA (2020)
3
WANT TO WIN ONE OF THREE R30 000 FEDISA BURSARIES? Introducing the FEDISA Creative Leaders Bursary Competition FEDISA is excited to introduce our Creative Leaders Bursary Competition, where you stand the chance to win one of three R30 000 bursaries to study at FEDISA in 2021. Want to enter? It’s easy. First, ensure you have applied to FEDISA and been provisionally accepted. Create a one minute Instagram video showing us why FEDISA is your first choice in fashion schools. Then, tag @fedisa_fashion_school on Instagram and #fedisabursary to make sure we see it. Tell the world about FEDISA. Tell the world about yourself and show the world why FEDISA is your first choice in fashion education.
FUND YOUR FEDISA STUDIES
ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT FUNDING YOUR FEDISA FASHION STUDIES? Don't let lack of finances hold you back. FEDISA Fashion School has partnered with Student Hero and now offers a wide range of funding options to meet your education dreams and financial reality. Student Hero is a single point of contact to multiple educational funding options. Let Student Hero make your funding trouble-free, worry-free.
GO TO WWW.FEDISA.CO.ZA OR WWW.STUDENTHERO.CO.ZA TO FIND OUT MORE
4
FEDISA FASHION SCHOOL SANDTON MAKING THE FASHION CIRCLE BIGGER
IMAGE BY: FEDISA (2020)
FEDISA Fashion School Street View, 50 Wierda Road West, Wierda Valley, Sandton
The new FEDISA Fashion School – Sandton campus was officially launched in January 2020, following a record design and build process by Urban Design & Build, that started in early October 2019. The new campus received Department of Higher Education and Training (DoHET) accreditation and Occupational Health and Safety sign-off well before the first students registered for studies on FEDISA’s various Council on Higher Education (CHE) accredited fashion programmes this year.
“We are really proud of the collaborative relationship TFG Design has built with FEDISA over the years and are pleased to say that we have many of the school’s alumni as valuable members of our team. It is incredibly exciting that this relationship will be directly extended to the pool of talent in Gauteng through the addition of the new Sandton campus. We have every confidence that the addition of the state-of-the-art Sandton campus will further entrench FEDISA’s ability to set the standard in developing the fashion industry’s future talent.“ Graham Choice Head of TFG Design, Manufacturing & Prestige Clothing IMAGE BY: FEDISA (2020)
FEDISA Fashion School Sandton Library
ALLEN LEROUX FEDISA CEO
The new Gauteng campus, in the heart of Sandton, is a short walk from the Sandton Gautrain station, the public transport commuter hub and Sandton City Mall and stretches over 2200 sqms. The light-filled campus building is designed around a glassroofed central atrium that is also home to the FEDISA visual merchandising gallery. Each of the teaching studios is purpose-built for the various academic programme requirements and Cape Union Mart (CUM) has generously sponsored the state-of-the-art clothing technology lab for the BA: Fashion students. Markham and CUM have also contributed 30 display mannequins for visual merchandising throughout the school. Designed around the people that occupy the building, the campus provides for specific staff and student zones with dedicated pause and catering areas, as well as a number of private consultation pods where virtual or in-person discussions can be conducted.
5
IMAGE BY: FEDISA (2020)
FEDISA Fashion School Sandton in the making October 2019
IMAGE BY: FEDISA (2020)
From left to right, FEDISA COO Gerald Bird and CEO Allen Leroux
The computer lab offers the full Adobe Creative Suite, access to the WGSN international trend research portal complete with surround sound for video editing and presentations. More research computers are also available in the triple
volume FEDISA library, situated on the lower level of the central atrium. The feature @ bench, imported from Italy, makes the library the focal point of this beautiful creative space, which includes a large, growing tree for quietly reading under.
The lower level of the multistorey Sandton campus holds the two adjoining 60-seater auditoria that can be combined into one auditorium by simply retracting the dividing acoustic dampening wall. In addition, the campus offers ample onsite parking, both open and undercover and the numerous established trees surrounding the main building, belie the bustling city location with varied birdsong throughout the day. FEDISA has invested heavily in the on-campus technology available to the teaching and learning process on both campuses, and this is clearly evident at the new FEDISA Fashion School - Sandton. Lecturer’s computers connect seamlessly to the numerous 75’ high definition screens in all studios and around campus and digital footage produced by FEDISA students play on all the screens throughout the day when not in use for teaching and learning. The 2020 academic year kicked off with a small number of students registered on each of the FEDISA programmes in Sandton, including the BA Honours: Fashion degree. Despite the challenges experienced due to the global pandemic, the FEDISA Fashion School has managed to remain ahead of the pack in every way. With a national footprint now, FEDISA is able to cater more fully to South Africa’s creative higher education needs and continue supporting the academic development of our future fashion professionals.
IMAGE BY: MARGARET OLWOCH (2020)
Cape Union Mart Technology Lab
Visit FEDISA Fashion School – Sandton at 50 Wierda Road West, Wierda Valley, Sandton, the next time you find yourself in Johannesburg.
“The special partnership between FEDISA and Markham is now in it’s 8th year and has yielded tremendous success in an area of skills that is greatly in demand in our industry and our country, that being the development of talented merchandise designers and buyers. This relationship addresses a highly strategic gap in the market and continues to benefit students, FEDISA, the design industry as well as Markham, extensively. Some of our biggest people success stories have been the students that have graduated from FEDISA, who have gone on to complete our internal trainee buyer programme and have become highly skilled buyers within our business. I truly believe that FEDISA in Sandton extends the opportunity to many more students living in our country to develop the specialist skills in fashion design. I am tremendously excited and I am looking forward to seeing the talent that will result from the Sandton FEDISA campus.“ Travell Rees Head of Markham
IMAGE BY: DIETER VAN DEN BERGH (2020)
IMAGE BY: MARGARET OLWOCH (2020)
FEDISA Fashion School Sandton Cape Union Mart Technology Lab
Cape Union Mart Technology Lab
6
FASHION IN A DIGITIZED WORLD
Virtual Fashion can be described as the visual representation of clothing built using computer technologies and 3D software. DANA TROSKIE
THIRD YEAR BA FASHION STUDENT
My fashion journey started like every other, a nervous teen entering the world of opportunity. My dreams of becoming a renowned fashion designer quickly faded as I discovered the secret behind a seemingly glamourous fashion industry, on the other side lay a mountain of polluting fabric waste. That is the day I decided that my impact on the industry had to encourage change and sustainability. It took me 2 years of my fashion studies to fully realize how I would achieve these goals. This is when I discovered Virtual Fashion and 3D software, created specifically to improve
the production and end results of fashion related products. With the effects of COVID-19, my involvement in this development quickly progressed. I came across an amazing company Bigthinx, who works on taking fashion from physical to digital. I contacted them and soon began to intern for them. I worked alongside a team to create an inclusive, sustainability focused 3D Virtual Fashion Show. The show featured in Fashinnovation’s 3rd worldwide talks 2020 at NYFW. Since starting with Bigthinx, a new team was developed specifically catering towards Virtual Fashion shows. This is an emerging area for the company
among many other fantastic digital fashion services they provide. I am excited for what is still to
come during my internship with them. Through this experience I have had the opportunity to learn from people across the world. I see fashion transforming from the current linear economy to
a more circular economy, with sustainability at the forefront. I hope to continue with the digitization of fashion and continuously contribute to an evolving fashion industry.
IMAGE BY: BIGTHINX (2020)
MULTICULTURALISM IN FASHION The fashion industry is notorius for its inability to uphold standard ethics. Cultural appropriation is one example of a major common offence that high fashion is guilty of committing. EMILY MCMAHON
THIRD YEAR DIPLOMA STUDENT
Cultural appropriation can be described as the act of taking or using things from a culture that is not your own, especially without showing that you understand or respect the culture. Furthermore, cultural appropriation often occurs as the backwash of colonization, and contributes to widening existing divisions of historic dispossession and oppression. In addition to this, for many indigenous peoples and local communities, making traditional clothes is a source of income; as such, cultural appropriation in the fashion industry can wield a significant economic blow, undercutting the ability of communities to earn a living by displacing the sale of authentic products. One global brand that has taken traditional cultural expressions and reused them out of context - thereby causing great harm to the holders of these expressions, is Gucci. At the Fall/Winter 2018 Fashion Week in Milan, IMAGE BY: NATASHA ROUSSEAU (2020) FIRST YEAR DIPLOMA CPT
Gucci showcased an array of designs that were a blatant use of cultural appropriation. White models were seen on the runway wearing bindis, traditional Sikh turbans, embellished headscarves, and balaclavas which were seen to resemble Blackface (Blackface is a term used in the United States for a form of theatrical make-up used predominantly by non-black performers to mock enslaved Africans). Alessandro Michele, the Creative Director of Gucci stated that he drew inspiration for the line from Donna Haraway’s 1984 essay, “A Cyborg Manifesto”. Overall, the brand showcased a complete disavowal of minority groups by having white models walk down the runway wearing clothes stolen from other ethnicities and cultures. As one of the global leading luxury brands, Gucci has an obligation to recognise the historic legacies of such clothing items and to be aware of the pitfalls associated with “borrowing”. Through having models of caucasian complexion wear garments that belong to different cultural and religious groups, Gucci managed to succeed in exploiting these specific cultural groups. Attempting to make money out of these clothes and out of these minority groups demonstrates
7 pure ignorance and failure to understand the torturous social issues that come with actually having to wear these items. Someone who buys and wears the Gucci scarf that’s ‘designed to be worn on the head’, wears it without stigma. They do not know what it feels like to be stared at or harassed by strangers, because they have the option to take it off when they go to an airport. People of colour do not have the same convenience. Even if Gucci’s design choices were unintentionally offensive - they still have drastic cultural, social and economic consequences. If I were a buyer, I would have made sure to have shown appreciation for the different cultures that I was taking inspiration from. For example - hiring models who are actual practising members of the Sikth culture to wear the turban on the runway. It would have been a beautiful statement to see Sikhs proudly representing their religion on one of the major runways. On the other hand, I would have also chosen to create an entirely new kind of fashion turban - one that does not have any relation to sacred religious headwear. In addition to that, I would also make sure that any garments or items that are based off of a certain cultures attire - are produced by local artisans from the country where the culture originates from.
This way, local economies of different countries can benefit from collaborations with larger brands, and the original production methods and materials of the item will be used - keeping the production process sacred and ethical. If a brand draws inspiration from a particular culture - they could also choose to hold a fashion show of the collection in the actual country where the culture originates from. Adding to that, brands could also create educational social media campaigns that acknowledges and recognises the holders of specific traditional cultural expressions - which would show the brands interest in making sure to honour where their original design inspirations came from. In conclusion, a diversity of cultural influences is what makes the fashion industry evolve and thrive, and respectful interpretation of the world’s cultures can allow all cultures to mutually enrich themselves and bring about genuine benefits to society. With that, the fashion industry must undergo a profound transformation - with fashion designers adapting and becoming more mindful when borrowing from other cultures, and making sure to offer products that are respectful of the original traditions.
DO CLOTHES REALLY MAKETH THE MAN? There is an imperishable connection between clothing and character. Clothing can make the character as well as the character making the clothing. JAMIE CHARLES
SECOND YEAR DIPLOMA STUDENT
Your clothes have a way of silently representing and characterizing you to yourself and the world. Your wardrobe is your own personal style sanctuary and your clothes can in fact speak much louder than words, but does clothing truly make you who you are? Many do believe that clothing is what makes the man and the way we dress can convey a nonlinguistic type of message or even story about an individual. It is significantly true that for people, dressing a certain way can have an impact on the way you
behave, perform and think. There are numerous reasons why people care about what clothing they wear and often use dress as a way of expressing themselves and how they would want to be treated, to display a type of role or to express an appealing appearance. Dress can have a deeper symbolic meaning such as a doctor wearing a white coat is associated with science or a judge wearing a robe signifies justice. I do believe clothes makes the man, simply because how you dress can generally portray the way or who you are as a person. The colours and style you wear can match or represent your personality. To me, a man wearing a suit portrays that he is all about business, says Michaela Wichman, a fashionista and Gen Z’er. After interviewing Deflandre De
IMAGE BY: CALISTA DA LUZ (2020) FIRST YEAR DIPLOMA CPT
Lange asking him to express how he felt in two different styled outfits, he had said that he felt comfortable in both, however he would prefer each styled outfit for the correct setting and occasion. The casual outfit made him feel relaxed and in comfort mode as he is a student and is always on his feet this was an everyday casual look he feels most comfortable in wearing. The more formal outfit had boosted Deflandre’s confidence and made him feel more better groomed and handsome. He felt ready to go out and show off his style at a formal event or fine and relaxed setting. As a result, Deflandre had different feelings and emotions and vibe for different outfits, yet it did not change the type of person he is on the inside. “Clothes do make the man in the sense that when you
look good, you feel good. I also think that clothes do not make the man because clothes cannot determine what your personality is and people should not look at what you wear as to determine what type of person you are”. We analyze the opposite spectrum on whether clothing really does make the man, and is it more to than just clothing and the way you dress. Surely however you dress does not change who you are as a person. Not all specific styles of dress can make each individual happy or determine the type of person or character they are, yes it has the ability to change your mindset at that given time, however, wearing something uncomfortable or something that makes you feel weird defeats the purpose of dress and looking good to feel good.
One should never have to risk unhappiness or uncomfort just for the sake of looking good which could likely have a negative impact appearance, internally and externally. It is more the character of person, who they are as an individual on the inside and failing to judge people based on their outer appearances. There are many speculations about whether clothing makes the man or does it all just happen to be a misconception. Whether we become a different person when wearing a certain type of dress and style or whether we use it to enhance inner performance or to use as a camouflage to hide our true self. In the end, it is more about the ability of man who makes the clothes and not amicably the clothes that makes the man.
8
IMAGE BY: CALISTA DA LUZ (2020) FIRST YEAR DIPLOMA STUDENT | CAPE TOWN
IMAGE BY: SHAE THUNDER (2020) FIRST YEAR DIPLOMA STUDENT | CAPE TOWN
IMAGE BY: TASMIN PRETORIUS (2020) FIRST YEAR DIPLOMA STUDENT | CAPE TOWN
IMAGE BY: BLESSING MANANA (2020) FIRST YEAR DIPLOMA STUDENT | SANDTON
9
IMAGE BY: RUBY MARÉ (2020) FIRST YEAR DIPLOMA STUDENT | CAPE TOWN
IMAGE BY: TAYLA LERENA (2020) SECOND YEAR DIPLOMA STUDENT | CAPE TOWN
IMAGE BY: KAYWIN DU PLESSIS (2020) FIRST YEAR DIPLOMA STUDENT | SANDTON
IMAGE BY: BLESSING MANANA (2020) FIRST YEAR DIPLOMA STUDENT | SANDTON
IMAGE BY: SHAE THUNDER (2020) FIRST YEAR DIPLOMA STUDENT | CAPE TOWN
10
FEDISA, A CUT ABOVE THE REST FEDISA prides itself on being one of the few institution’s to fully engage with industry throughout a given academic year. 2020 was no different. MARINELLA AVVAKOUMIDES ACADEMIC DIRECTOR
Our first industry interaction was a guest lecture from HR Business Leader for the Cape Union Mart Group, Ania Cupido in February 2020. Later that month, we welcomed Teri Macduff and Jane McNamara, the founders of MAVEN to present a guest talk on campus about managing a business in the online retail space. Just days before lockdown was implemented, FEDISA had scheduled for Trend Union’s very own Executive Director, Phillip Fimmano to present a guest talk on campus on behalf of global Trend Forecaster Li Edelkoort, while still in the country following their appearances at Design Indaba. Instead, we had to engage with Phillip (who had since returned to London) in our very first industry Zoom Webinar. Bringing it closer to home, and in the spirit of continuing with Zoom, we invited the doyenne of fashion, Ms Lucilla Booyzen to discuss the origins and future of South African Fashion
Week with our students. In May, we welcomed South African born Anesca Swart, a Senior Footwear Designer for Legero all the way from Austria who gave us an exclusive online look at the world of international shoe design. Ms Renee Jain, Enterprise Application Manager for Cape Union Mart (CUM) - who also sits on FEDISA’s Academic Council - spoke about the trajectory of retail in a post-COVID world. FEDISA’s very own 2011 graduate Bianca da Silva of Silva Lux Footwear presented a webinar on how to hustle as a designer, product developer and retail entrepreneur. July saw Futurist and Head of Pick n Pay Clothing Susan Searle speak about what it takes to make it in the industry and the learning curves she experienced along the way. Later that month, Tania Rossouw, the Head of Creative at Foschini gave insight into her dynamic role in the retail world. August saw us chat with super quirky Big Bad Wolf blogger, Ricci-Lee Kalish. And, true to
Cape Union Mart always going the extra mile, Ryan Weideman, KWAY’s Merchandise Manager reviewed all Second Year group work submitted for the annual KWAY collaboration. Thereafter, Ryan conducted a thorough feedback session via Zoom while in the midst of strenuous restrictions imposed on all retail. Later that month, 2016 FEDISA Graduate, Kayla Pretorius (Creative Consultant) together with her colleague, Senior Creative Consultant, Justin Duffy of BDA London discussed the trend consultancy approach for various fashion brands. Loin Cloth and Ashes - Founder and Creative Director, Anissa Mpungwe spoke about her well established South African brand and how she has since expanded internationally. The Mr Price Group sent their talent acquisition specialists our way in September, and Sonto Thusi who heads up that division spoke online to all final year students about the possible future career opportunities within the group. Later that month, an exclusive third year guest lecture was presented online by Leah Herman, a Designer for Foschini Group
FEDISA WEBINAR
FEDISA WEBINAR
PHILLIP FIMMANO - DIRECTOR AT TREND UNION/STUDIO EDELKOORT
LUCILLA BOOYZEN - CEO OF SA FASHION WEEK
(TFG), who spoke about fast fashion and the role of quick response in retail. Thereafter, and in another webinar all the way from London Natalie Theo, Style Director at Dressipi discussed working in the diverse fashion industry and the myriad of career opportunities that stem from various experiences. Maria Murtas (Visual Merchandising Leader for CUM) returned again this year, albeit remotely, to present her annual retail and visual merchandising guest presentation. The last session for the year featured the dynamic duo, Didier de Villiers and Thei Thei of the Magents lifestyle brand who spoke about their passion for local design and manufacture, which is the essence of their label. While the above Online webinars were on the go, FEDISA continued to engage with industry in the various annual collaborations even while off campus. Our special thanks to Old Khaki, KEEDO, KWAY, TRUWORTHS, Cape Cobra Leathercraft and Markham for their continued efforts during what has surely been one of the most challenging years for all of retail.
THE INDUSTRY VALUE OF A FEDISA HONOURS DEGREE Problem-solving and critical thinking are the cornerstones of being a leader. These two concepts are often easy to understand but hard to apply. MARIZE BOLTON
FEDISA LECTURER & HONOURS GRADUATE
FEDISA WEBINAR BIANCA DA SILVA - DESIGNER, PRODUCT DEVELOPER & ENTREPRENEUR
During the Honours program, you are confronted with many obstacles such as how to use your time effectively, balancing homelife and work-life, and your personal care. You might be similar to me and be incredibly hard on
yourself for not immediately achieving the marks that you are used to from past academic experiences and all of a sudden you are required to dig deep. The journey of Honours is not only an academic one but a deeply personal one. You need to assess the process and yourself and see things differently. Gaining knowledge
and a new perspective is the goal, while also reevaluating what reward means to you. The marks are merely an indication of what was correctly applied and what was not. However, understanding that progression and always striving to improve your skillset is the real aim. Seeing how you grow and apply feedback is the golden crown that you get to wear once you have pushed through to the end as the flexible can not be broken.
The Honours program has been a process of grit and extension of the foundation one already has. As time passes by, some of the bricks of your old foundation will come loose and a new foundation, glued with problem-solving skills and critical thinking, will be built. The Honours program leaves you with the mindset to continue maintaining and constantly upgrading your academic foundation as this will be the roots that keep you standing when the winds of life and industry blow, and you can remain steadfast.
11 Ten years after completing my previous degree, I decided to enrol in the FEDISA honours programme in 2020 so that I could start my post-graduate journey towards a masters degree. We attended classes on campus for little over a month before the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown was announced. Never did I anticipate that I would have to complete a degree at home, with two kids who could no longer attend school, all while continuing to work as a freelance designer. Our weekly classes were migrated onto online platforms and for many weeks my classmates were the only people I saw outside of my immediate family as they appeared in squares on my screen during our discussions. I also did not consult my academic supervisors in-person while writing my mini-dissertation. Instead, we consulted, and ultimately presented, our research projects online. I am tremendously grateful that I was enrolled at FEDISA during this year. We received incredible support from both our lecturers and the institution, which enabled us to successfully complete our degrees regardless of the additional challenges this year brought upon us all. Wilna Combrinck FEDISA Honours Graduate 2020 IMAGE BY: FEDISA (2020)
CRIMSON COUTURE BY SANDTON FIRST YEAR BA DEGREE STUDENTS The 2020 Covid-19 lockdown robbed many people of the opportunity to fully explore their creativity. So, once we had the BA: Fashion students back on campus we continued with the process of developing their technical understanding of pattern and garment construction as planned for the academic year. ALLEN LEROUX FEDISA CEO
We certainly did not want our students to miss out on any learning opportunities and they were all back up-todate with the 2020 curriculum
requirements after some serious academic focus. Of course, in true FEDISA style, just being up-to-date is never enough. FEDISA’s CEO, Allen Leroux, decided that there was time to flex those creative
muscles that had been in limbo so long. He quickly designed a full-scale draping assignment for the Sandton BA: Fashion 1st Year students and set about with a live demonstration in the beautiful atrium gallery while the students observed his masterful draping techniques from every angle. Working in groups of two, the students were issued with 9m of the red FEDISA draping fabric and set
about producing their own draped and stitched creations under the watchful eye of their Garment Technology lecturer, Mr Dee. Such negotiated creative endeavours often bring out the very best in people and the Crimson Couture assignment certainly tested our young students’ grit. The results were truly astounding and these unexpected 1st year pieces are currently on display in the FEDISA Sandton Atrium Gallery. FEDISA certainly never fails to create an incredible teaching and learning opportunity for everyone involved.”
IMAGE BY: FEDISA (2020)
IMAGE BY: FEDISA (2020)
IMAGE BY: FEDISA (2020)
IMAGE BY: FEDISA (2020)
IMAGE BY: FEDISA (2020)
12
2020 COLLABORATIONS WITH INDUSTRY GIANTS K-WAY SUB-BRAND COLLECTIONS
OurApp
KIM GUSH
FEDISA LECTURER
FEDISA second-year students have been developing subbrand concepts for K-Way with a 5-10 year projection across their subjects as part of their first semester. For our 3rd year of collaboration with K-Way, we faced a new set of challenges. The world went into lockdown and businesses started operating very differently. Our secondyear students experienced a quick changing consumer trend and were challenged with the task on how to market their K-Way sub-brand collections to these new consumer behaviours - cue the second year Retail Management
IMAGE BY: KRISTEN LEE HOWELL & SIMONE TREDOUX (2020)
assignment: M-Commerce. The students developed mobile app concepts for their Business Studies brands that not only sold products via mobile devices, but had functionality with a purpose. Think metrics measuring horse rider’s strides and tracking devices linked to safe groups for women hikers
who feel unsafe hiking alone. The students not only showed an understanding for the everchanging consumer but applied innovative concepts that definitely peaked Merchandise Manager for K-Way & Cape Union Mart, Ryan Weideman’s interest. IMAGE BY: FEDISA (2020)
IMAGE BY: FEDISA (2020)
IMAGE BY: JUSTINE DOO (2020) THIRD YEAR DIPLOMA CPT
W O M A N T- S H I R T LINEN BLEND
Heritage Day Coa b
IMAGE BY: FEDISA (2020)
IMAGE BY: FEDISA (2020)
OLD KHAKI HERITAGE DAY COLLABORTION LIESL VAN STADEN FEDISA LECTURER
2020 saw the first Diploma Computer Aided Design 3 collaboration with Old Khaki and Cape Union Mart. The Third Year Diploma students were tasked to design graphic artworks that align with the Old Khaki brand and incorporates Heritage Day for a potential September 2020 in-store launch. These artworks had to be designed specifically for Men’s and Ladie’s T-shirts as well as tote bags. Along with the graphic artworks, students designed a digital window display for Cape Union Mart where their whole
concept had to be displayed. Each student had the oppurtunity to engage with industry and received vital feedback during the whole design process after which they presented their final designs and concept to the Old Khaki and Cape Union Mart team. This was a wonderful oppurtunity for the students to portray their rich culture and diversity in their South African beliefs and traditions. The FEDISA students are privileged to receive such indepth interaction from the retail industry.
IMAGE BY: CHIARA TRECASTELLI (2020) THIRD YEAR DIPLOMA CPT
IMAGE BY: FEDISA (2020)
IMAGE BY: FEDISA (2020)
IMAGE BY: CASSIDY ENSLIN (2020) THIRD YEAR DIPLOMA CPT
13 CATRICE COSMETICS COLLABORTION
IMAGE BY: FEDISA (2020)
IMAGE BY: FEDISA (2020)
IMAGE BY: ANA CARLA TELO (2020) FIRST YEAR DIPLOMA CPT
FEDISA Cape Town collaborated with Catrice Cosmetics who sponsored a digital make-up workshop and individual make-up kits to all the students in preparation for the FEDISA Fashion Flash - Elsa vs. Coco, that was premiered on Instagram TV on the 30th of July 2020. The students had to create a unique runway make-up look, using the sponsored makeup. Earlier in the year, First Year Diploma students styled their won beauty editorials in collaboration with Catrice Cosmetics. Each student had the opportunity to present three beauty editorials to be judged by the Catrice team and beauty blogger, Areeba Baker Davids.
IMAGE BY: FEDISA (2020)
IMAGE BY: FEDISA (2020)
IMAGE BY: CALISTA DA LUZ (2020) FIRST YEAR DIPLOMA CPT
IMAGE BY: DEMI TAYLA FELIX (2020) FIRST YEAR DIPLOMA CPT
14
2020, WHAT A YEAR! Here is to our students and staff excelling in every way possible, the only way true FEDISIANS do!
IMAGE BY: HANNAH PARKINS (2020) FIRST YEAR DIPLOMA STUDENT | CAPE TOWN
IMAGE BY: HLOGI PRECIOUS MAHLABE (2020) FIRST YEAR DIPLOMA STUDENT | SANDTON
IMAGE BY: KELLY BRYCE (2020) FIRST YEAR DIPLOMA STUDENT | CAPE TOWN
IMAGE BY: SHAE THUNDER (2020) FIRST YEAR DIPLOMA STUDENT | CAPE TOWN
IMAGE BY: SHAE THUNDER (2020) FIRST YEAR DIPLOMA STUDENT | CAPE TOWN
15
FASHION SCHOOL Cape Town
Sandton
APPLY NOW | WWW.FEDISA.CO.ZA FEDISA FASHION SCHOOL
START YOUR
FASHION JOURNEY AT FEDISA
Interested in a career in fashion? Start your fashion journey now with FEDISA Fashion School. Study a BA Degree in Fashion, a BA Honours in Fashion, or a Diploma in Fashion Merchandising, Marketing and Media at either our Cape Town or Sandton campus.
Do you dream of a high-powered career in the exciting international world of fashion? Want to be a fashion buyer, designer, stylist, editor or more? Then FEDISA Fashion School is your ultimate choice to make your dreams come true with one of these exciting internationally recognized qualifications.
BA DEGREE IN
DIPLOMA IN FASHION
FASHION
The aim of the Diploma in Fashion Merchandising, Marketing and Media programme is to produce fashion professionals, empowered with the capacity to successfully manage various fashion related processes with a thorough understanding of the requisites involved, through a well-developed research, analytic and application ability.
The BA Degree in Fashion is designed for the creative business-minded person, who has a flair for fashion, style and a love of all aspects influencing the “World of Fashion�, such as prevailing trends, cultural influences, production technology and sound business practice. Equal emphasis is placed on the creative and technical skills of design, production technology and business acumen.
APPLY NOW |
BA HONOURS IN
FASHION
The aim of the BA Honours Degree in Fashion is to produce fashion professionals; empowered with the capacity to manage various fashion business processes, from middle management to strategic levels through advanced research applications. The programme is designed for the accomplished creative businessorientated person.
Email info@fedisa.co.za to apply now or go to www.fedisa.co.za for more information.
For more information contact 021 424 0975 | 010 329 0100 Cape Town - 81 Church Street, Cape Town CBD | Sandton - 50 Wierda Rd W, Wierda Valley, Sandton Registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private higher education institution under the Higher Education Act, 1997. Registration Certificate No. 2007/HE07/001
LOCATED