BY Nkosazana Ngwadla
African Fashion International (AFI) announced the finalists for the AFI Fastrack™ 2023 designer development programme.
The 2023 cohort each presented a look before they were unveiled on the first night of Cape Town Fashion Week. They were part of a show that featured AFI Fastrack alumnus, 2021’s designer of the year winner, Shamyra Moodley of LaaniRaani and Keneoua Mhletswa who designs for AFI’s in-house brand, House of Nala.
“The 2023 cohort comprises of talented designers who are ready to take their careers to the next level,” says businesswoman and philanthropist, Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, who is the Founder and Executive Chair of AFI.
“AFI Fastrack’s goal is to curate and propel emerging designers to be business-savvy and industry-relevant. The programme offers mentorship and guidance on how to make an impact in the African fashion industry.”
One of the finalists is Mimangaliso Ndiko, founder of Sixx6. “Sixx6 is a sustainable high end ready to wear brand that promotes an unrestricted concept of self-expression through clothing. A lot of the brands aesthetic is a mixture of vintage corporate suiting, pre-colonial silhouette shapes up-cycled, interchangeable, comprises of detachable components and adjustable features to further increase the longevity of every garment. Pre-colonial attire/silhouettes were the perfect example of self-confidence, a celebration of body positivity, sex appeal and what our brand stands for!” Mimangaliso wrote on social media.
The finalists will undergo a year of mentorship and being guided on how to be designers who will make an impact in the African fashion industry, while also becoming savvy business professionals.
AFI Fastrack™ is an incubator programme by African Fashion International (AFI), with a special emphasis on the business of fashion. AFI Fastrack’s goal is to curate and propel emerging designers to become technically savvy and commercially minded fashion entrepreneurs who incorporate sustainability into their work.
Since 2011, AFI Fastrack, has brought emerging African designers to AFI Fashion Week stages in Joburg and Cape Town, showcasing the wealth of homegrown talent at the continent’s disposal.
