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SA has designs on Paris

FASHION AMBASSADORS: Craig Jacobs, Verona Dove, Gavin Rajah, Precious Moloi-Motsepe, Thula Sindi, Thabani Mavundla and David Tlale in Paris. © Other. Bon Voyage: The 'fab' four fashion designers, Thabani Mavundla, David Tlale, Thula Sindi and Craig Jacobs, selected to show at Paris Couture Week, have finally landed in the City of Light! For the next four days the designers, under the experienced mentorship of Gavin Rajah, will attend to model castings, final fittings, as well as make-up and hair preparations and cocktail functions - hobnobbing with the Paris fashion world elite. Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, patron of the project has joined the group today and took some time out of her schedule to pose for a photo and a chat to the young designers' whose nerves were shattered earlier on this week because their luggage (with their collections) were left behind in SA! They have all since been reunited with the precious items.
FASHION AMBASSADORS: Craig Jacobs, Verona Dove, Gavin Rajah, Precious Moloi-Motsepe, Thula Sindi, Thabani Mavundla and David Tlale in Paris. © Other. Bon Voyage: The 'fab' four fashion designers, Thabani Mavundla, David Tlale, Thula Sindi and Craig Jacobs, selected to show at Paris Couture Week, have finally landed in the City of Light! For the next four days the designers, under the experienced mentorship of Gavin Rajah, will attend to model castings, final fittings, as well as make-up and hair preparations and cocktail functions - hobnobbing with the Paris fashion world elite. Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, patron of the project has joined the group today and took some time out of her schedule to pose for a photo and a chat to the young designers' whose nerves were shattered earlier on this week because their luggage (with their collections) were left behind in SA! They have all since been reunited with the precious items.

Patience Bambalele

Patience Bambalele

South African designers wowed French audiences when they unveiled their collections at the Cercle de l'Union Interalliee in Paris recently.

Thabani Mavundla, David Tlale, Craig Jacobs and Thula Sindi, were swamped by the media and fashion buyers after showing their collections to a key audience at this prestigious Paris showcase.

Each of the designers now has an opportunity to network with the media and fashion buyers in their own area of interest.

Linda Sangaret, country manager at South African Tourism in Paris, said: "Our organisation is dedicated to showcasing South African culture and talent. These designers are superb ambassadors for us."

The initiative was sponsored by Chivas Regal and Sun International and Chivas' brand manager Johann van Zyl said: "These four designers epitomise the wealth of unique talent we have to offer global markets. We are proud to be associated with chic African initiatives that add a new spin to luxury markets."

Jacobs, one of the designers, said: "This has been the most humbling experience of my life.

"All four of us have been dreaming in French for months."

The four designers were chosen for their originality and use of indigenous South African elements, as well as their commitment to empowerment through fashion in South Africa.

The designers then spent four months putting their collections together under the mentorship of top veteran designer Gavin Rajah.

Rajah guided the four through the process of creating a couture collection and pushed them to the limit to ensure that they met the high-standards necessary to compete on a global stage.

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