Woolies has designs on local fashion

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written by Rose Modise for Truelove

Woolworths has officially joined forces with SA Fashion Week (SAFW) as the exclusive retail sponsor, a significant partnership aimed at fast-tracking South African fashion from the runway to the rails.

This week, Woolworths 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.

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Papama

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All stylists by profession, the six influencers – Sharon Becker, Lethabo “Boogy” Maboi, Trevor Stuurman, Bee Diamondhead, Tshepi Vundla and Papama – will be working with local photographers and creative teams to realise their vision.

Lethabo “Boogy” Maboi

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In a SAFW x StyleBySA exclusive (pictured), 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.

Trevor Stuurman

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The exclusive shoot by Joburg-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.

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.

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