The knitting of collaborative networks and the shaping of a sustainable fashion future for South Africa – these will be some of the most exhilarating trends to watch at South African Fashion Week (SAFW)’s Spring Summer 23 Collections at the Mall of Africa from 20 – 23 April 2023.
Now in its 26th year, the country’s top fashion design platform, organized with the support of Mall of Africa, Mr. Price, Cruz Vodka, Oppo, Carlton Hair and M.A.C make-up, the South African Fashion Week SS23 will host 11 shows over three days and show 39 collections.
The updated prize package for the winning 7-10 look collection by a local emerging designer comes to R50k cash, mentorship in the MRP office across all departments and an exclusive collection for MRP, sold in selected stores. The retail giant’s sponsorship of SAFW’s New Talent Search will see a return to this classic three-pronged prize format. “We felt that we wanted to go back to supporting the industry in a more formal way,” MRP Managing Director Kevin Smit explained.
MRP’s Project range is the surviving element of what used to be the brand’s partnership with ELLE magazine’s young talent search for fashion design. Winners co-created a limited edition range with MRP’s team as part of their prize package. Now it’s designed completely in-house, serving more as an elevated capsule offering of globally relevant trends for discerning style fans. The Project range will remain as is, while MRP builds this partnership with SAFW into a new talent support vertical.
Members of MRP’s team will sit on this year’s judging panel, including collab and license merchandise manager Vasti McLeod, head of merchandising Sanele Zulu and head of womenswear buying Amber Jones. “Our customer is young and hungry for newness, on-trend fashion and incredible value,” Jones said. “A great range for Mr. Price means delivering on our fashion value promise, a fresh approach, innovative thinking, clever use of colour and shape, but most importantly providing our customer the opportunity to express themselves through clothing.”
