Cape Town Fashion Festival 20 - 28 November 2004 | Western Cape Government

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Cape Town Fashion Festival 20 - 28 November 2004

15 November 2004

Over 12 000 jobs have been lost in the local fashion industry - this year alone.

This shocking statistic was released by the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (SACTWU) as it announced details of this year¹s Cape Town Fashion Festival.

The event, which runs from 20 - 28 November 2004, is aimed at promoting the local clothing, textile and leather industries and saving jobs.

SACTWU's General Secretary, Ebrahim Patel said the situation is serious. The latest information shows that 12 000 jobs were lost over the nine month period from January to September.

He said it was estimated that every fashion industry job supports at least five dependents, meaning that at least 60 000 South African¹s have been adversely affected.

Workers in the fashion industry face great challenges: to maintain jobs and decent work standards in the face of significant pressures created by globalisation, and competition from sweatshop economies.

The Cape Town Fashion Festival represents a bold vision to showcase the strengths, variety, high quality and affordability of local fashion products, and to KEEP JOBS IN FASHION.

The initiative is supported by Proudly South African.

PSA's Martin Feinstein said a Fashion Festival of this nature is imperative to encourage consumers at home to respect and support locally manufactured products. He said the survival of the South African fashion industry depended on this support.

"What will save the industry is innovative design, good quality and the local consumer purchasing SA-manufactured products," Feinstein said.

Seeing the obvious value, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will this year again back the initiative.

The DTI's Cobs Pillay says that the local fashion industry is a major contributor to the South African manufacturing sector. "The Department has played a major role in bringing a number of international, fashion-industry-product buyers from leading overseas retailers to this year¹s festival."

Other festival partners include the Clothing, Textile, Footwear and Leather, and Wholesale and Retail SETAs, the Western Cape Provincial Government, and the City of Cape Town.

The 10-day Fashion Festival boasts a range of exciting events to be held at venues including the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), the Good Hope Centre, Claremont's Cavendish Square and Mitchell's Plain's Liberty Promenade.

Those who want to shop till they drop shouldn't miss the Fashion and Lifestyle Expo at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 25 - 28 November. Leading designers who form part of the 120 exhibitors will be offering as much as 50% off their goods.

The annual Spring Queen Beauty Pageant at the Good Hope Centre on 20 November is also a feature. As is the workers Fashion Catwalk on 27 November, which culminates in a free concert featuring Kwaito stars Mafikizolo. This happens in the Company's Garden from 10am to 3pm.

Fashion extravaganza's showcasing the work of 90 designers will take place across the city. This is the largest simultaneous promotion of local design talent.

For more information go to: www.capetownfashionfestival.co.za

Media Enquiries: 

Penny Gaines
Cell: 082 554 0554

Vicky Stark
Cell: 082 786 4240