Fashion Force Africa Magazine

The prestigious AFI Fastrack Prize announces its 2024 finalists! Discover these rising stars and the competition that empowers young South African fashion designers.

The Africa Fashion International (AFI) is set to crown the next big name in South African fashion at a highly anticipated event on June 21st, 2024, held at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The AFI Fastrack Prize is a coveted award recognizing the nation’s most promising young designer. This prestigious recognition follows a rigorous year-long program focused on both fashion design and the crucial aspects of business and sustainability within the industry.

Established in 2011, the AFI Fastrack program has nurtured over 40 designers, equipping them with the tools to navigate the complexities of the fashion industry. The program’s success speaks volumes, with past winners like Shamyra Moodley (LaaniRaani, 2021), Thebe Magugu (2015), and Rich Mnisi (2014) now celebrated names in the global fashion scene. AFI Fastrack provides these rising stars with invaluable exposure and the opportunity to connect with key global networks, propelling their brands towards international recognition.

Just one example is Shamyra Moodley of LaaniRaani. Following her AFI Fastrack win in 2021 and a showcase at the AFI Forbes 30/50 Fashion Experience in Abu Dhabi (March 2022), LaaniRaani secured a coveted spot at the prestigious Galeries Lafayette department store in Paris. This year, AFI also celebrates the meteoric rise of another Fastrack alum, Thebe Magugu, who recently opened his flagship retail store, Magugu House, in Johannesburg.

The seven finalists were meticulously chosen from a pool of 233 applicants. They’ve endured an intensive 12-month training program encompassing mentorship, executive training in business management, valuable networking opportunities, and exposure to the fashion market. Additionally, they participated in targeted webinars geared towards sharpening their business acumen and thriving within a competitive industry.

“The vision behind the AFI Fastrack Prize is to identify, nurture, and empower a new generation of designers who will shape the future of fashion on a global scale,” explains Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe, Founder and Executive Chairperson of AFI. “We work closely with these designers to elevate their commitment to quality, excellence, and sustainability, encompassing environmental, heritage, ethical, and financial aspects.”

The remaining seven designers will showcase their final collections to a diverse panel of judges. These judges will be looking for designers who embody AFI’s core values – a dedication to quality, creativity, a deep appreciation for heritage, and a commitment to sustainability in its broadest sense, encompassing innovation and commercial viability.

Reaching the final round is a significant achievement itself, and each designer has already gained invaluable experience through their participation in the program. However, the grand prize winner will walk away with a package valued at R150,000 – a significant boost to launch their fashion careers.

Meet the AFI Fastrack Prize 2024 Finalists:

• Botshelo Molete (Mekhukhu, Northern Cape)
• Kgotsofalo Given Monyamate (Articles from MARS, Gauteng)
• Loice Dube (Lo’Ice, Gauteng)
• Xolani Magadla & Mawande Mbawuli (Xolani Mawande, Western Cape)
• Xhanti Xabiso Mpu (XHVNTI, Western Cape)
• Thandazani Nofingxana (Abantu, Eastern Cape)
• Mimangaliso Ndiko (Sixx6, Gauteng)

A Design Challenge Rooted in Freedom and Expression

The final design challenge has a special theme: “30 Years of Fashion Freedom. 30 Years of Fashion Expression.” This theme celebrates South Africa’s remarkable journey of democracy over the past 30 years and its profound influence on the evolution of fashion within the country.

The finalists will undergo a rigorous judging process that will evaluate their business acumen, creativity, and adherence to the theme. The judging panel comprises Kiba Bam (retail expert), Aspasia Karras (magazine publisher and editor-at-large of Sunday Times Lifestyle), Khothatso Tsotetsi (fashion designer and lecturer at Tshwane University of Technology), and Shamyra Moodley (AFI Fastrack Prize 2021 winner and owner of LaaniRaani).

“I’m incredibly excited about the AFI Fastrack designers,” concludes Dr. Moloi