Fashion in South Africa

	The launch of the Fashion in Africa (FIA) project on the 5th May 2006 was a huge success! Planning for the next event has already commenced! The pilot project has set the stage for other African countries to join South Africa and Tunisia in their quest to promote African fashion and culture collectively to the rest of the continent and the globe
The first-ever Fashion in Africa event was a joint venture between the Tshwane Municipality (Pretoria, South Africa) and the Tunisian Embassy. The idea of collaboration with Tunisia in a culture-related venture stemmed from President Thabo Mbeki's visit there in 2004 to promote trade and business partnerships between this northernmost African country and South Africa, the southernmost African country, symbolizing the drive towards a united continent.
FIA is aimed at promoting African fashion and culture. It envisaged giving rise to fashion-related business opportunities and to open doors for all stake holders in the fashion industry.It will also create opportunities for other African countries to trade with each other, to the benefit of Africa as a whole, thus supporting the NEPAD initiative and, in the long run, NEPAD's key objectives. FIA project was designed to instill pride in African fashion and culture as a whole, but also to celebrate the diversity of African culture and fashion. In addition, the project was envisaged to strengthen ties between African countries. The pilot project was also envisaged to create a platform for promoting talent in the fashion and textile industries in Africa. Moreover, the pilot project was to have paved the way for expanding the initiative into the global market, especially through the Tunisian partners, so as to promote African fashion and textiles collectively at international events such as the fashion weeks in London, Milan and Paris. If you would like Fashion in Africa to participate in your event, contact the project manager.
	The cities of Tunis (Tunisia) and Tshwane (South Africa) have embarked on a joint venture to promote African fashion and culture. The pilot project, Fashion In Africa, is to be hosted by the City of Tshwane and will be launched from 5 – 6 May 2006 at the Wonderboom Airport.
The launch will be in the form of a fashion show that will bring together the northernmost and southernmost capitals of Africa, hence the theme: “When north meets south”. Although the fashion show will focus on designs from Tshwane and Tunis only, it will set the stage for other African countries to join the project in the years after and help unite Africa through fashion and culture. Partnering with African countries to promote African fashion and culture is thus in the pipeline. The Fashion In Africa pilot project is a joint venture of the Municipality of the City of Tshwane and the Tunisian Embassy. The fashion show is run under the auspices of the Executive Mayor of Tshwane, and is fully endorsed by the Municipal Manager, Mr Blake Mosley-Lefatola, and the Ambassador of Tunisia in South Africa, Mr Ali Goutali.

So while you were blowing your vuvuzelas at the stadiums and fan parks, the who’s who of fashion were at the Sandton Convention Centre in Joburg (Dr Precious Motsepe-Moloi, Edith Venter, Top Billing’s Jeannie Dee, designers David Tlale and Thula Sindi, Jennifer Su, the brothers from Kwela Tebza, just to name a few). I caught up with the new face of Garnier and Selimathunzi presenter, Zizo Beda . Since becoming Miss Teen SA in 2007, she’s been flying. She has a great vibe too. Big up to her on her achievements. Besides all the designer stalls on show, there were a lot of other fun activities, including one of my favourites - the 3D Sony TVs. In true kid-in-a-candy-store style, I went to try it out. I watched Freshlyground and Shakira doing the Waka Waka, jumping out of the screen. Dear Santa, I want this for Christmas . After that fun escape from the fashionistas, I saw a couple of the models teaching some wannabes how to pout. They also seemed to be doing a bit of last minute posing practice. My only problem with the event? Hmm . that would have to be the models - they’re too skinny. Seriously, girls, eating isn’t bad for you. I promise.

Oh, and by the way, US basketballer Kobe Bryant was also there. He’s massive, so are his security guards. They obviously don’t have problems eating. WHEN former Miss Tourism Zimbabwe, Vanessa Sibanda, clinched a deal with South Africa’s G3 Model at the beginning of the year, it was not only a solid personal achievement but a ray of hope for Zimbabwe’s faltering modelling industry. And the beauty queen has not disappointed as she has settled well in SA and is now scoring big. It is only four months since she went down south but Sibanda already boasts a lucrative international profile following a number of successful shows and commercials.

She has been involved in major projects like the SA Fashion Week and La Francophone Fashion Week in addition to featuring in promotionals for renowned designers such as JJ Schoeman, Luxion Kulca and Bridal Couture. She will even be raising her head higher and silencing any critics when she travels to Sri Lanka in the next two weeks. “I will be jetting off for my first runway job outside the continent at the end of the month. “I will be in Sri Lanka between July 29 and 31 for the Asian Fashion Week,” Vanessa revealed from her SA base.
Sibanda says she also took part in some FIFA World Cup promotions ahead of the soccer showcase that ended in SA last week. It is indeed a commendable achievement for the beauty queen.

“I am having a great time at the agency because I am working with fellow Zimbabwean models like Rachel Stuart, Jonathan Denga and Michelle Wallace who have all done well internationally. “They have been with G3 for more than seven years and their support and encouragement has been instrumental in moulding my career to international standards.“South Africa has been extremely enjoyable and has also given me a platform to improve and discover myself deeper.“I can say relocating here has been a huge stepping stone to help me realise part of my dreams.”

Sibanda last visited Zimbabwe in May but would be jetting back home early next month.“In the first days, I used to visit the country every two weeks but I am now very busy.“I have not been home since May. Sadly, I could not be with my mentor Kiki Divaris when her husband died.

“The schedule has been very tight.”

During her spare time, she usually hangs out with friends or goes for a massage or shopping.
Her dream is to set up a modelling academy back home.

History

The telling of South Africa’s history is a controversial issue and has long been a point of contention among historians. The claim is that it is usually seen through a “European perspective” and ignores the history of the African people who inhabited the continent for generations before any settler arrived. This debate is mostly focused on how to record the country’s past in school textbooks and academic journals. Most facts about the European settlers are not in dispute.

European settlement in South Africa began in Cape Town and gradually expanded north. The British were the first to land here, but they decided against setting up a colony at the Cape of Good Hope, leaving it open for the Dutch. Holland realised both the strategic and economic importance of the area and in 1652, they sent Jan van Riebeeck, a successful merchant, to establish a settlement. Riebeeck, along with 82 men and eight women, made the Cape their new home.

These new settlers rapidly developed the port, increasing the need for labour. Slaves were brought in to help out, but as word spread of this new colony, people regularly arrived from Holland and across Europe. These new arrivals replaced the slaves on the construction sites and it was not long before a thriving port was operational. By the beginning of the 18th century, the settlement had grown to such an extent that the Trek Boers (white farmers from Holland) had penetrated the surrounding areas looking for suitable land.

The Trek Boers liked to roam around the country on their carts, but this often caused conflict among local tribes and frequently the indigenous people were forced to fight for their land. This, however, was not the only conflict taking place. In towns and villages, local citizens opposed the corrupt and virtually bankrupt colonial government and demanded independence from the administration.

This conflict ended in 1795 when the British landed on the Cape and declared the colony British. The British continued their rule free from conflict until the mid-19th century. In 1835, over 10,000 Boers left the Cape and travelled northeast. This was largely due to economic problems and the discontent felt for the British who, in 1833, had declared the slave trade to be illegal and suggested equality between whites and non-whites.

The Boers were fighting with a native tribe called the Xhosa and when the British refused to give the Boers sufficient military protection, the Dutch began to feel that the British were destroying their social order of racial separation, or ‘white superiority’. The Boers separated themselves from the British, but this only lasted until 1910, when the South African Union was founded. A democratic state was formed, but only white people had the right to vote.

Racial separation was soon enforced, with the native people being forced to live in an area where no white people were allowed to purchase land and, likewise, they were forbidden to purchase land in the other 87 per cent of the country. In 1948, apartheid was born. This was not only about the separation of races in economic situations, but was increasingly about people’s private lives. Mixed race marriages and any mixed race relationship in general were strictly forbidden. Racial segregation in all public areas was introduced and a new education system was enforced to keep all non-whites at a very low standard. Subjects included dish washing and weeding.

Resistance from the black people came in the form of the African National Congress (ANC). Mass protests resulted in the government banning all opposition groups, forcing them underground. After the Soweto uprising of 1976, the ANC struggle became militant and South Africa became a police state.

In 1989, the then president, FW de Klerk, finally admitted the failure of apartheid policies and the old regime collapsed. This led to the first ever general elections in South Africa. The ANC was unbanned and Nelson Mandela was released from prison after 27 years. Both the ANC and the government agreed to work peacefully together and after two turbulent years, a new constitution was drafted.

In April 1994, the first democratic elections were held, with the ANC gaining the overwhelming majority. Nelson Mandela became the first black president of the new South Africa. The party has won successive elections and appointed the next two presidents, Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma. These days, with little racial conflict, the country’s is considered by many as a “miracle” and a model for others to follow.

Weather

South Africa’s overall climate is very pleasant. Summers are hot and winters are generally mild, although there can be snow in mountainous regions. Rainfall mostly occurs during the summer months of November to March. Peak holiday season is during December and January, especially over the Christmas and New Year celebrations. This is when South Africans head for the coastal resorts and the number of visitors from Europe reaches a peak. But this does not mean that this is the only time to visit the country. For those going on safari or visiting game reserves, the best game viewing takes place from July to September.

If you want to catch the Cape flower season, when the countryside is ablaze with colour, then August and September are the best months. The school holiday months of June/July are busy along the warm west coast of the country, predominantly Durban and the Kwazulu Natal coast. Finally, outdoor activities like diving, hiking and surfing are usually at their best after the summer’s peak, during March and April. Overall, though, if you are after sunny weather, South Africa experiences one of the highest amounts of sunshine per year in the world, making it a popular year-round destination.

Situated on the southernmost tip of Africa, the Republic of South Africa has become the international gateway to an enchanting continent. With its spectacular scenic beauty, sophisticated tourism infrastructure and charming people, it is not difficult to see why the country has been rated one of the must-see destinations on the globe. The awarding of the 2010 Soccer World Cup Finals to South Africa was a final confirmation that the country was ready to take its place as a major international player.

Tourists stream to South Africa for its famed game reserves and lodges, beautiful beaches and historic cities. Seen in an African context, the country has always been something special. Blessed with a wealth of diamonds and minerals such as gold and uranium, it attracted scores of immigrants from Europe. They came not only to share in the country’s bounty, but to enjoy its great climate and high standard of living. The new settlers and the many African tribes that inhabited the country ensured a remarkably diverse population.

The political situation in the country, which led to international boycotts and internal strife in the past, has become one of its major selling points today. Known by many as the 'Rainbow Nation', South Africa is seen a model of how intense rivals can join forces to transform a country. The nation’s “apartheid past” is not hidden, but commemorated in monuments and museums that are major tourist attractions.

First-time visitors to South Africa are often surprised by the sophistication of its tourism industry. With three international airports, it is the gateway to the entire southern African region. Glitzy shopping malls are packed with designer goods and fabulous restaurants rival those in major cities around the globe. Hotels and game lodges are world class. In fact, South Africa regularly dominates polls of the world’s top hotels and, more often than not, one of the exquisite game lodges is voted the number one hotel on the globe! However, part of the charm of the country, is that you can also experience the “real” Africa, the rural lifestyle that has lasted for generations. Small towns and rural communities welcome visitors with open arms and they, in turn, form friendships and bonds that can last forever.

Whatever the reason for visiting the country, few can fail to be enchanted by the scenic beauty. From Cape Town’s magnificent Table Mountain to the farmlands, vineyards, beaches, desert plains and the bushland, this is a destination just waiting to be discovered. The call of nature is strong – and you won’t get any closer to it than in South Africa