Newsletter No 29/2 August 2024
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Melrose Arch Set to Become South African Fashion Week’s New Home in September 2024
South African Fashion Week (SA Fashion Week) will be hosted in Johannesburg’s Melrose Arch Precinct in September this year.
The country’s premier designer fashion platform will be moving into its new home for the Autumn/Winter ’25 Collections from 26th to 28th September 2024, says director, Lucilla Booyzen.
This year’s event will adopt a dynamic new format that will combine runway shows staged in an intriguing “never-used-before” space in Melrose Arch, with a line-up of lifestyle and brand activations throughout the precinct.
“SA Fashion Week’s vision over the past 27 years has been to explore sustainable business models that can leverage fashion’s economic and social influence for the benefit of all the stakeholders involved,” says Booyzen. “We are delighted to be partnering with one of the city’s most exciting lifestyle precincts, in one of its most historical areas, to develop yet another such mutually beneficial venture.”
Whilst the collaboration with SA Fashion Week will be a first for Melrose Arch, the precinct has staged several high-profile fashion events in the past, most notably the Paris Elle Collections featuring top international designers.
“A precinct focused on unique urban design is a superb backdrop for SA Fashion Week’s equally unique designer signatures,” says Managing Director at Melrose Arch, Natalie Stewart. “We are a premium lifestyle destination that is ideally positioned to enhance the SA Fashion Week experience with our diverse selection of eateries, retail stores, hotels and lifestyle offerings, all in the safety of a professionally managed, secure environment.”
“SA Fashion Week’s continuous commitment to sustainability and responsible fashion production also dovetails well with our own commitment to place, people and the planet at the core of what we do with our ongoing focus on sustainable practice,” says Stewart.
“Everything from the sense of community to the cobbled pavements connecting the open-air environment from one node to the next, makes this playground for the cosmopolitan the perfect host for an event focused on the future of sustainable fashion,” says Melrose Arch’s Marketing Manager, Khanyi Moyo.
“The double volume basement parking, where the shows will take place, is safe and spacious enough to build the iconic runway and to create an edgy and eclectic environment for the SA Fashion Week experience without any disruptions to the precinct’s daily operations,” says Moyo.
“From embracing the timeless European feel of Melrose Arch, to redefining the face and future of mixed-use precincts, the collaboration between SA Fashion Week and Melrose Arch makes commercial and creative sense, as there is no other mixed-use precinct that reflects the vibrancy and dynamism of Melrose Arch on local soil,” according to Moyo.
The upcoming SA Fashion Week will include an extensive programme of events designed to encourage widespread engagement on social platforms.
“We want to make it easy for South African consumers to share in all the excitement and participate in the conversation,” Booyzen says.
Melrose Arch joins South African Fashion Week’s prestigious line-up of partners comprising of Cruz Vodka, Mr Price, Isuzu and L’Oréal.
Gert- Johan Coetzee Fashion Design Bursary
Celebrated fashion luminary Gert-Johan Coetzee proudly announces the continuation of his esteemed Fashion Design Bursary into 2024, marking another milestone in his ongoing commitment to nurturing South Africa’s emerging design talent. Established in 2009 and hosted annually at the North-West School of Design, this transformative bursary has become synonymous with fashion education and career empowerment.
The Gert-Johan Coetzee Fashion Design Bursary offers a unique opportunity for one deserving individual to embark on a comprehensive three-year fashion journey at Gert-Johan Coetzee’s alma mater. The recipient will delve into a curriculum designed to cultivate technical prowess, conceptual creativity and industry acumen under the guidance of seasoned professionals.
Reflecting on the significance of the bursary, Coetzee remarked – “Throughout my career I have been privileged to receive all the opportunities I have and I see it as a responsibility to honour this and to be able to pass down the mantle, it evokes wonderful memories of seeing these eager, young talented individuals arrive at my studio for mentorship and seeing them go on to become a success story.”
Previous winners, include Yaseen Pinetown who won in 2017, Junior Skhosana (2023), Basetsana Maloleka (2022), and Marumo Malepe (2021) are currently at the academy enhancing their skills to make their unique mark on the industry. When discussing the current challenges faced by the field, Junior emphasizes the significance of sustainable design practices and expresses his aspiration to address this gap through innovative design thinking. He remains committed to his authentic approach and believes that furthering his education at the North-West School of Design will enable him to leverage his unique perspective and make a meaningful impact on the industry.
In 2024, the bursary package is valued at R200,000 and includes full tuition fees, a laptop sponsored by the Computer Shop, and a state-of-the-art Bernina sewing machine, essential tools for the aspiring designer’s journey.
Applications for the 2025 Gert-Johan Coetzee Bursary open on 15 July 2024 and close on the 10th of September 2024.
To enter the bursary the following steps are to be taken.
3.1 Visit the website, www.nwsd.co.za, complete the online application and submit.
3.2 Upload a video of yourself whilst dressed in your favourite style and describe your style.
Include, who you are and where you are from.
Also brief us on where you got your clothes from.
The video must not be longer than 1 minute.
3.3 Upload all this to your social media, Tik-tok and Instagram and you must use the following hashtags, #nwsd, #gert, #gertbursary2024, #fashiondesign, #fashionbursary, #fashionschool and the use these tags, @nwsdfashion and @gertjohancoetzee.
Admission Criteria
Applicants should refer to the website to read through the fulltime course prospectus.
All applicants should be South African citizens.
Currently 18 years or older.
If applicants have successfully passed their Gr 12, they should be in possession of a Gr 12 certificate with diploma exemption.
Applicants that have studied in another field, are allowed to apply.
Applicants may re-enter if they entered competition previously.
Winner must be able to commence their studies in January 2025.
Winner must be able to read, speak, write and understand English.
Winner must be a South African citizen.
What does the bursary include?
Tuition fees at NWSD, valued at R 176 000.00
Sewing Machine courtesy of Bernina at R 14 000.00
Laptop courtesy of Computer Shop Klerksdorp at R15 000.00
Winner will also be required to complete 2 internships per year at Gert-Johan Coetzee studios, whereby valuable knowledge, skill and know-how will be bestowed upon them.
NB! Excluded from the bursary is personal stationery, accommodation and meals, which the winner will have to provide for themselves.
Woolworths – trading update and trading statement
Group trading update
Group turnover and concession sales from continuing operations (i.e. excluding David Jones in the prior period) for the current period grew by 6.2% and by 5.6% on a constant currency basis, notwithstanding the challenging trading conditions impacting consumer discretionary spend across our businesses. On a comparable 52-week period ended 23 June 2024, sales grew by 4.3%, and by 3.2% in the comparable second half of the year. Online sales grew by 13.3% and contributed 9.2% to Group sales for the year.
Turnover and concession sales for the Total Group (including the contribution of David Jones for the nine-month period in the prior year, and the additional week in the current period) decreased by 16.4% on the prior period.
TRADING STATEMENT
Earnings per share (‘EPS’), headline EPS (‘HEPS’) and adjusted diluted HEPS (‘adHEPS’) from continuing operations for the comparable 52-week period is expected to be lower than the reported EPS, HEPS and adHEPS for the prior period within the ranges reflected below. This should be considered in the context of the high prior period base, in which the Group delivered record earnings.
* EPS from continuing operations expected to be between 275.5c per share and 303.1c per share (551.0c per share);
* HEPS from continuing operations expected to be between 350.0c per share and 375.7c per share (514.7c per share); and
* adHEPS from continuing operations expected to be between 376.1c per share and 401.6c per share (508.3c per share)
The Group’s results are expected to be released on or about Wednesday, 4 September 2024.
Company Profile:-
ACA Threads, established in 1953, is a distinguished South African manufacturer and distributor of sewing and embroidery threads.
Since our inception, ACA Threads has upheld principles of competence, integrity and innovation, integrating the latest technologies to meet global standards. We are committed to conducting business ethically and professionally, with a focus on continuous improvement, social responsibility and environmental sustainability, essential elements for sustained business success for both ACA and our valued customers.
To maintain our position as South Africa’s premier sewing thread manufacturer and supplier, ACA Threads has aligned itself with leading international partners who share our core values and business principles.
Since the 1980s, we have proudly partnered with Madeira, renowned globally for their exceptional range of high-quality embroidery threads and technical knowledge.
Our collaboration with the German company AMANN Group, a leader in industrial and embroidery threads, ensures we offer cutting-edge expertise and a comprehensive range of technical products that meet global trends.
In 2011, ACA Threads acquired A&E South Africa, a subsidiary of the US company American & Efird, enhancing our capabilities and reinforcing our leadership in the Southern African thread industry.
Our manufacturing plant, established in Brackenfell since 1971, supplies the CTFL (Clothing, Textile, Footwear and Leather) sector with a diverse range of products including Seralon spun polyester, Polycore corespun polyester, Acafil textured nylon, Polytex textured polyester and Serafil continuous filament polyester. Advanced dyeing facilities and a variety of winding machines ensure flexibility and quick response in meeting customer needs across industries.
Continuous innovation and process optimization are at the forefront of our operations, allowing us to deliver superior quality products at competitive prices. Backed by a skilled technical sales team and a range of value-added services, we are able to provide professional advice to ensure seamless and efficient manufacturing processes for our clients.
We take pride in our commitment to education and transparency, regularly hosting factory tours for students and customers. These tours provide insight into our manufacturing processes and business ethos.
For inquiries or more information, please email us at enquiries@acagroup.co.za or visit our website www.acathreads.co.za
Lady Gaga’s ostrich feathers for Paris Olympics opening ceremony sourced from SA
The pink ostrich plumes and black ostrich feather outfit used during Lady Gaga’s Olympic Games performance were sourced from South Africa’s ostrich farms and are proudly South African.
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