A note from the editor

AS A mom of two incredible daughters, I take it upon myself to constantly remind them of the importance and the power of what it is to be a woman.

Strong-willed, bright and curious about the world, they already have big dreams. A vision of how they want their lives to be and how they want to contribute to the world. My eldest believes that our planet is in need of saving and wants to do her part in keeping it alive while her baby sister wants to escape it all and explore other planets. The one has “I want to be a robotics engineer” on her list of things she wants to be one day, while the other wants to be a botanist and marine biologist.

These are all careers I didn’t even know existed when I was growing up. Never mind the fact that these are things, women can do! Regardless of what they end up doing one day, I know that they will do it their way. Women are no longer quietly labouring in the shadows of men. They are at the forefront of making bold moves. And doing it in style.

While there was a time when men dominated the fashion industry, women such as Coco Chanel, Vivienne Westwood and Sarah Burton have left a lasting impression on what fashion is today.

From the runway to production, women are becoming an intricate part of the fashion world not only in what we wear but in how we think about fashion and the impact it has on society. In this month’s IOL Fashion magazine, A Celebration of Women, we chat to women who are making waves in the industry. From businesswoman Nkano Senyolo’s desire to see SA designers flourish internationally to actress Bonnie Mbuli’s incredible mental health journey, each woman featured has made an impact on lives through their passion for fashion.

Gerry