Woolworths launches designer capsule collections to support home-grown talent

Launching in autumn/winter 2017, SAFW designer capsule collections will be made available online and through select Woolies stores in a move to support home-grown talent where it matters most – commercially.

“Our partnership with SAFW is a real opportunity to support local fashion entrepreneurs,” says Woolworths’ group director of Marketing and Sustainability, Charmaine Huet. “We recognise the wealth of talent in the industry and want to celebrate South African fashion’s unique point of view. Customers can expect the very best in style that truly reflects South African creativity. We aim to inspire and promote local fashion through access to production and market exposure.” As a passionately South African retailer, the partnership with SAFW is “a seamless fit”, she adds.

“We are excited to have Woolies on board as our main sponsor as we believe that our shared values and creative synergies have the potential to unearth the next South African fashion greats,” says SAFW founder, Lucilla Booyzen. “We look forward to an inspiring partnership and to seeing the results in the form of affordably priced merchandise in stores. This is both a creative and commercial incubator to advance local design into the mainstream retail space.”

SAFW x StyleBySA

Woolworths has unveiled the new faces of ‘StyleBySA’ Spring/Summer 2016, the retailer’s seasonal fashion campaign featuring local influencers in shots entirely styled and art directed by them. All stylists by profession, the six influencers – Sharon Becker, Lethabo Maboi, Trevor Stuurman, Bee Diamondhead, Tshepi Vundla and Papama – will be working with local photographers and creative teams to realise their vision.

In a SAFW x StyleBySA exclusive, the stylists are seen pairing Woolies fashion brands with pieces from the newest A/W17 collections by SAFW designers Somerset Jane, Lumin, Vintage Zionist and Tailor Me. The exclusive shoot by Johannesburg-based photographer, Paul Samuels, is a nod to the retailer's long-standing support of local design, evidenced in the original ‘South African Designers at Woolworths’ collections by Maya Prass, Stoned Cherrie, Craig Native and Stephen Quatember from 2002 to 2009.

“Our involvement with SAFW and the launch of StyleBySA means we are able to boost much-needed growth in the industry and catalyse change through empowering our designers and their communities through the value chain,” says Woolworths’ GM of Womensworld, Thateng Shimange. “We are committed to collaborating with home-grown talent across the industry, from designers to stylists, photographers, bloggers and models. Practically, this means investing in and working with design trailblazers to grow their business, boost their visibility and give them access to a bigger market.”

SAFW kicked off this year with Autumn/Winter ’17 collections on Tuesday, 20 September at The Park at Hyde Park Corner, Johannesburg.

For more information, visit www.woolworths.co.za. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook or on Twitter.