From walking New York Fashion Week to work that’s changing the fabric of social challenges in our country for the better; here’s what some of South Africa’s finest in sustainable fashion achieved over the past year!
Global (10 November 2024) — Every year, South Africa’s finest in sustainable fashion are commended for their creative and eco-centric work at the Twyg Sustainable Fashion Awards! Because their hard work does not end with a glittering awards show, it’s always exciting to catch up on what the sustainable fashionistas have achieved after their wins. And the 2023 cohort did not disappoint!
From designs that walked some of the world’s most coveted runways to work that’s changing the fabric of social challenges in our country for the better, here are some of the winners’ most impressive milestones in the past year.
Walking New York Fashion Week
Ntuli-Sommie’s MUNKUS won the 2023 Trans-seasonal Design Award—a massive nod to quality design that aspires to be timeless, versatile and multi-functional. This helps the sustainable economy not only because better quality means more wear but also because clever and multi-functional designs prepared to weather different seasons make for a wardrobe that’s capsulised. I.e., There’s less need to buy different clothing products, and less purchasing is all-important for sustainable consciousness.
MUNKUS had a big year after its designs not only championed women’s empowerment but also walked New York Fashion week—a massive opportunity for the world to enjoy proudly South African creativity.
Over 2 Million Moments of Impact
NGO Taking Care of Business won the Social Impact Award for its work in changing the lives of those raising the next generation as one of the finest sustainable fashion social opportunities. TCB works on teaching mostly unemployed mothers to resell, repair and remake items, and processed over 2 million items last year; saving our landfills from scores of waste.
Not only this, but the organisation also received the prestigious Cape Town Civic Honours Award.
Bringing Culture Back to Fashion
Emerging Designer winner Khumo Morojele helped bring culture back to the local fashion scene by stocking a fine art fashion range that also formed part of a multimedia project, ‘From Me to You’. Khumo also participated in an immersive group exhibition ‘Birth is Nice’ that re-opened a gallery and worked on a create project in downtown Jozi to showcase the power of thrifting.
Casually in Cannes
Retail Award winner Style Rotate are in the business of looks that are here for a good time, not a long time. Many know the pain of buying a garment for a special occasion only to wear it once and never again despite our purses’ protests. Style Rotate steps in by allowing people to rent a look instead.
This year, SR got to dress actress Camilla Wolfson at the Cannes Film Festival in a big moment to show off preloved glamour on the global stage. Back home, SR’s Georgina Rae Bennett who is also the director of Safe Study (an academic support, art enrichment and mental wellness organisation for children) visited several local schools to educate more young people to adopt mindful shopping habits.
by 