Lali van Zuydam
South Africa’s fashion industry was the focus of a two-day dialogue series hosted by the French Institute of South Africa and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture in Johannesburg.
Titled Fashion Forward: Industry Development Dialogues, the event brought together local and French experts to explore challenges in the fashion value chain and identify opportunities for growth.
The creative industries, including fashion, contribute more than 3% to South Africa’s GDP and provide opportunities for young people, individuals with disabilities, and those in the informal economy. The dialogue series aims to support local businesses and provide input into Department of Sport, Arts and Culture’s Cultural and Creative Industries Master Plan.
Arnaud Roux, Deputy Head of Mission at the French Embassy, said the collaboration emphasises the shared commitment to fostering creative industries.
“South Africa and France’s shared interest in the fashion sector is an opportunity to contribute to economic development through the promotion of emerging and small businesses. It is also an opportunity to shed light on the current South African fashion ecosystem, steered by a new generation of talented designers,” he said.
Dr Cynthia Stella Khumalo, Acting Director-General at the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, highlighted the importance of collaboration in addressing sector challenges.
“Bringing stakeholders together in an intentional way will deepen understanding of the needs of the sector and begin to chart the way forward for South Africa’s fashion sector to work together to grow local businesses,” she said.
The dialogues addressed key topics, including sustainability and market readiness.
Boitumelo Pooe, a panelist, emphasised the importance of consumer education in driving sustainable fashion.
“Consumers who buy sustainable fashion choose to align with their core values such as prioritisation, planning and habits over exclusivity, functionality and aesthetics,” she said.
French fashion experts Frédérique Gérardin, Amedi Nacer, and Louis Orlianges shared insights from their expertise in innovation and market-oriented strategies.
Participants also toured prominent Johannesburg fashion hubs, including Thebe Magugu House, Fabric Bank, and the Fashion Accounts exhibition at Museum Africa. These visits highlighted the sector’s creative potential and its role in cultural storytelling.
Pretoria News