18 South African designers will be jetting off to the city of Turin in Italy to showcase their jewellery, clothing and accessory designs at the 2019 Torino Fashion Week (TFW) from 27 June – 3 July, alongside hundreds of other designers from across the globe.

Torino Fashion Week is organised by the Europe Enterprise Network (ENN) which supports and provides SMEs with services that address internationalisation and innovation with a focus on modern fashion. TFW is a medley of B2B meetings, fashion workshops, and catwalk shows facilitated by international stylists, companies and designers. The designers are expected to network with other international designers and showcase their items to international markets.

The TFW is now entering its fourth year, with this year’s theme being: “Taking Turin to the world and bringing the world to Turin”. This is the mission that drives this fashion event, founded in 2016 by Claudio Azzolini. The event’s historical references are rooted in the period between 1800 and 1900, when Turin was the fulcrum of culture a major hub of creativity in Italy. In 1911 Turin hosted a grand fashion pavilion during the International Exposition of Industry and Labour. This background animates the city’s fashion event today, which features a seven day programme of international runways – providing the ideal platform for promoting small and medium-sized brands. Torino Fashion Week also includes the secondary B2B project called Torino Fashion Match.

South Africa’s nine provinces will be well represented at this year’s Torino Fashion Week – with the 22 designers shortlisted to showcase their creations coming from Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, KwaZulu-Natal and Free State promising to add a distinctive South African touch to the catwalk at Torino.

Designers that will be representing South Africa are: Modesta Creation and Design; Nguni Shades SA; Indoni Fashion House; Dimzique Jewellery; Fashion Engagement; Carlos Fritz; Eullydoll Design and Screenprinting; Tumalone Lifestyle; Royal Wardrobe Designs; Pelo & Hart; Lee Far Pro; Khanya Couture; Takka Trading; Lebomash Designs; Rubicon Communications; Baruch; Alvada Creations; and Scalo Designs

The genesis to South Africa’s participation in this international event is Seda’s linkage to the Europe Enterprise Network (ENN) through INSME - International Network for Small and Medium Enterprises in Italy which created a platform that Seda initially used by participating in the 2017 and 2018 shows.

 

Issued by SEDA