(Anisa Mpungwe lecturing Jump Start
pre-production students. Pic by Pierre Tostee)
Bridging the gap
between tertiary education and the manufacturing industry, fashion designer and
MRP Foundation Ambassador, Anisa Mpungwe, teaches Jump Start pre-production
students to embrace their African design heritage and how to succeed in the
workplace.
The award-winning
designer brings a wealth of knowledge to the ten-month intensive practical and
theoretical course that aims to bridges the gap between tertiary education and
the manufacturing industry to directly address South Africa’s youth
unemployment challenge.
Mpungwe recently
spent time mentoring the Jump Start pre-production students to ensure that they
can become more knowledgeable, passionate and ultimately more employable. This
is the second year the stylish designer and founder of popular womenswear
design house, Loin Cloth & Ashes, has been hands-on with the Jump Start
Pre-production Manufacturing course.
The Tanzanian-born
designer thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the young students’ learning
journey saying, “It’s important to always look at potential future leaders and
the MRP Foundation has made this platform available for any students who want
to further their knowledge in the manufacturing, textile and footwear industry.
The questions they ask are always interesting and it’s fulfilling to know that
in a small way you can mentor eager learners who don’t have access to the
fashion industry just yet.”
Anisa’s journey
with MRP began back in 2008 when she was announced the winner of the Elle
Rising Star Design Award, an annual competition in association with MRP, where
she reaffirmed her herself as a force within the local fashion industry.
During her week
with the MRP Foundation Anisa enlightened the students about Africa’s wealth of
established designers, after which they had to present a collection in a team
based on their findings. The 25 students loved learning from Anisa and absorbed
as much workplace knowledge as they could, learning skills like professional
presentation techniques and how to work effectively in groups, both vital to
building careers.
Jessica Bennie (25)
thoroughly enjoyed learning about how to interact with each other on a
professional level. The budding designer hopes to use the knowledge acquired
through the pre-production course to start her career saying: “My dream is to
start my own brand but I’d also love to lecture in fashion as it’s such an
exciting art that helps you emotionally express yourself.
Above all, Anisa
encouraged the students to think smarter when it came to their career dreams,
imparting essential advice that will no doubt help them gain a foothold in the
local manufacturing, textile and footwear industry.
“Don’t be so hard
on yourself. As long as there is a clear end goal, the road there can always
alter if it needs to. Networking and maintaining relationships within the
industry and people in the know is a good tool to use to for this process.”
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