Deadline:
October 11, 2017.
The global fashion industry today is worth
three trillion US dollars, but sub-Sahara Africa accounts for only 1% of that.
A staggering statistic, considering that
the apparel and textile industry has the potential both to create jobs and
contribute to a country’s economy. In today’s digital world, consumers
worldwide are eager to discover products from afar – in this regard, fashion is
a powerful brand builder for a country interested in exporting their cultural
capital.
Of all the potential obstacles to growing
this market in South Africa, it seems creative talent and exposure are the
least of what hinders upcoming fashion brands from thriving on the
international scene, access to finance even less. There is a definite need for
teaching the business of fashion – fashion entrepreneurs need to be supported
in professionalizing their enterprises and running a truly profitable business.
There is real opportunity to take South
Africa’s up-and-coming fashion designers and turn them into powerful fashion
CEO’s. Given the appropriate support, these fashion entrepreneurs could be
running profitable businesses capable of competing on the international apparel
scene, creating jobs, and having an impact on the South African economy.
This is why purpose-driven marketing agency
NONZeRO partnered with Standard Bank to create the Business of Fashion
accelerator programme Threads – stitched
by Standard Bank.
“Standard Bank is fully committed to
driving sustainable, long-term growth on the continent. Our support of the
Threads programme forms part of our greater vision, encouraging inclusive
economic development for entrepreneurs across South Africa with the aim of
creating positivity and prosperity for all in Africa – now and in the future.
We look forward to the programme and the positive growth that is sure to come
from it”, says Jayshree Naidoo, Head of the Standard Bank Incubator.
“What we’re looking to do is support the
entrepreneurs’ creativity with the crucial business know-how, mentorship and
support that’ll propel the business to the point where they’re experiencing
real growth, and running like professional outfits. The partnership with
Standard Bank is a key to delivering on this goal.”
In order to supplement the programme with
an academic backbone, the team partnered with the e4 Impact Foundation, an
initiative of the Universita Cattolico of Milan focusing on impact
entrepreneurship.
Together, they created a 12-week curriculum
that focuses on the business operations of a fashion enterprise: From financing
and retaining employees, to lean manufacturing and eCommerce, as well as
specialized procurement methods and marketing.
The programme is open to all fashion
entrepreneurs with existing business operating in South Africa, and is taught
simultaneously from four regional classroom hubs: Cape Town, Johannesburg,
Durban and Port Elizabeth.
The programme takes place two evenings per
week for a 12-week duration. The participants will also be taken on action
learning field trips across South Africa designed to showcase best practices
across the country in various fields.
“It was important for us to see a strong
tangible impact made from this programme, that’s why a trade trip to Europe was
organized and why we decided to take it one step further, and work with
industry experts for all of the individual modules of the course,” explains
Tania Habimana, co-founder of Threads program and Head of Content &
Digital, NONZeRO.
Working together with the Standard Bank
Incubator and a strong eco-system of partners in business (including
Mercedes-Benz), government and civil society, the programme calls upon the
expertise of some of South Africa’s top business minds and thought leaders as
programme teachers. The programme uses real-life case studies and experiential
learning exercises to reinforce the academic learnership of the programme with
practical industry insights.
At the end of the programme, the
participants will be invited to present their new business model in a business
case presentation to a panel of judges, and the winning participant will be
taken on an international trade trip to Europe. The key focus of this trade
trip is a meeting with a high-impact private distribution network enabling the
participant to liaise with and present their business/products to wholesale
buyers and retailers, as well as attending trade fairs.
The winning participant will receive an SME
start-up pack courtesy of Standard Bank, will become a Mercedes Benz brand
ambassador and drive the brand-new vehicle for a 12 month period, as well as
benefit from continued mentorship by the Threads team.
To participate in the Threads programme,
interested entrepreneurs can apply online, via Threads website, www.threadsonline.co.za
The programme is open to entrepreneurs with
an existing business in operation in South Africa for at least one year.
The application process ends on October 11,
2017.
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