THE RENAULT-SA Fashion Week New Talent Search
Flux Creative is driving the creative concept behind the Renault SA Fashion Week Talent Search.
The Renault-SA Fashion Week New Talent Search is a new initiative that will – not only identify South Africa’s hottest design talent – but also provide the winning designer with a springboard (and therefore competitive business advantage) into SA’s vibrant fashion arena.
“SA Fashion Week’s prestigious New Talent search is evolving with the global new world order that is fast emerging. Instead of asking designers to compete on a narrow, prescriptive design theme, we celebrate and respect the individual handwriting of each designer. The concept of the Renault-SA Fashion Week new talent search therefore combines the new currencies of individualism, as well as emotive engagement. Join us on this new journey, as we search for the future legends of South African fashion” – Dion Chang (Convener)
HOW TO ENTER:
The competition is only open to designers who are working to establish themselves/their brands in the South African fashion industry (see terms and conditions for more details)
Phase 1 of the competition
Submit a portfolio of your work. Your portfolio should be an accurate snapshot of your design style, brand essence or creative handwriting. It should depict the current state of your business: your label and where it currently sits in terms of the business of fashion (eg: your production capacity, your distribution channe ls if any or simply your business model).
A short biography must be attached or be part of your entry, as well as a forward-looking vision of where you see your brand going and how you intend to drive it there.
You will be judged solely on this portfolio to reach phase 2, as one of the six finalists, so you need to sell yourself, your brand, and your vision to the judges – realistically – showing a good understanding of what it takes to manage a sustainable fashion brand.
Your portfolio submission must be no larger than A3 and no smaller than A4 in size and no longer than 10 pages long.
From this entry mechanism, 6 designers will be shortlisted as finalists, and then only will phase 2 of the competition be revealed to them.
Acceptance of entries close on Friday the 29th June, and the 6 finalists will be informed by Friday 6th July.
Phase 2 of the competition – The Renault South Africa Challenge
The 6 finalists will assemble in Johannesburg (out of town finalists will be flown in for this phase) where they will be given a creative challenge by Renault South Africa which will determine their final collections that they will be judged on.
Each finalist will have just over 8 weeks to produce an 8 outfit competition collection based on their theme. The collection will have to be completed and ready for fittings by the 18th September 2012.
All finalists will receive R 3 000 towards producing this competition collection.
All that can be revealed at this stage is that the Renault South Africa challenge is specifically conceptualized to ensure the finalists compete, showing their individual handwriting, rather than designing for a prescribed theme – which all other design competitions do.
Intrigued? Here’s what’s at stake…
THE PRIZES
The winner receives a R25 000 cash prize from Renault South Africa to help further his/her fashion business.
The winner also receives the use of a Renault Megane Coupe for a year (Inclusive of insurance, but excluding petrol)
The winner will get the opportunity to show a satellite Collection as part of a 4 designer package at the SAFW summer 2013 season – 6 months later.
Representation by The Fashion Agent for one year
All the finalists will be granted access to the buyers lounge – winter 2013 – not to sell but to engage with the buyers and conduct research for their own brands during the two days.
All the finalists get the opportunity again to access the buyers lounge for Summer 2013/14 – a second season in the SAFW buyers cycle, and another opportunity to refine your retail offering.
All the finalists including the winner will receive space on the Renault South Africa stand at SAFW’s Pop-Up Shop in Sandton 2013.
THE JUDGES
Dion Chang (convener)
Jacques van der Watt – designer/ Black Coffee
Sandra Rogers – Executive Manager Trend and Design at Edcon
Annette Pringle – The Fashion Agent
Milisuthando Bongela – Fashion blogger and owner/buyer Mememe
Bryan Ramkilawan – CEO: Cape Town Fashion Council
Lee-Ann Stanton – Advertising manager: Renault South Africa
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Your entry must include your name, age, address, daytime contact number and email address.
Entries must be delivered to:
The South African Fashion Week office
2nd Floor
Design District
Cnr. 7th and Keyes Avenues
Rosebank
2196
or
SAFW,
PO Box 647
Parklands
Johannesburg
2121
ALL ENTRIES TO BE MARKED FOR THE ATTENTION OF SHIELA MAKHUABANE
All entry portfolios will not be returned but can be collected from SAFW after the finalists have been announced. If your entry is to be collected this must be stipulated on your entry. SAFW will not be responsible for the return of any entries via post, unless the designer includes/supplies self addressed, pre-paid, return packaging, which is clearly marked.
The closing date for entries is Friday 29th June 2012 and finalists will be notified telephonically on Friday 6th July 2012.
The Renault-SAFW New Talent search final will take place on the 27th September at the Crowne Plaza – The Rosebank Hotel.
Time will be confirmed at a later date.
Visit www.safashionweek.co.za or www.fluxtrends.co.za for more details or call Maretha from SAFW on 011 442 7812
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
1. The competition is open to new and emerging designers in search of a platform to launch their labels in the South African fashion industry.
2. Students or designers who have been operating their own labels for more than seven years and who have more than two distribution channels are not eligible for entry.
3. All finalist’s collections must be completed and ready for fittings by the 18th September 2012.
4. All finalists to be part of the SAFW Winter 2013 collections Buyers Lounge which will take place on 1st and 2nd of October 2012.
5. SAFW reserves the right to use a selection of the winner’s garments in a reader’s competition to promote the online magazine and the designer.
6. The winner must be available for all press interviews and publicity generated by South Africa Fashion Week.
7. The winner agrees to take up all the prizes as stipulated, namely:
Buyers lounge – Winter Collections 2013 which will take place 1st and 2nd October 2012.
Pop Up Shop – Summer Collections 2013/14
Shared show – Summer Collections 2013/14
8. The winner agrees to be represented by The Fashion Agent for one year
9. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
