SA FASHION WEEK NEW TALENT SEARCH | 2025

The SA Fashion Week New Talent Search is open to women's wear designers with businesses based in South Africa. 

All designer applicants must supply least one brick and mortar store or online store, and must have been in business for less than ten years to qualify for entry. 

Established in 1998, The New Talent Search Award is open to emerging fashion designers. 

It has helped launch the careers of designers who are leaders in contemporary design. Many of the finalists are now running their own businesses, driving prominent brands, or working behind the scenes as art directors, stylists, and fashion lecturers.

THE BRIEF: 

Cross the boundaries, tap into your culture, creating a new idea and vision.  

▪                The first step is to design your own print. Your design must include your print

                covering at least 25% of the garments you present.

▪                Consider fabrics that have the least impact on the environment.

▪                Use sustainably sourced fabrics.

▪                Say no to fur and leather - say yes to Cruelty-free fashion

▪                Provide consumer care instructions to increase the garment’s longevity.

▪                Create a timeless Collection that transcends seasons

Base your designs on 2025 world trends by combining contemporary shapes, styles, and construction with your inspiration and design talent.

Research Responsible Fashion to make sure you understand it in a way that you can live it and play a role in shaping the future of Fashion Design.

Semi-finalists, are selected by a panel of industry-leading judges. They are selected based on design talent, ability to follow the brief, and capacity to supply stores.

• R20 000-00 towards developing your SS26 Collection – will be given to the winner to assist with their April 2026 Collections

• The winner will be part of the 2026 New Talent Search show one year later

• Social media coverage, video of your Collection, photographs of each garment, valued at R25 000-00.

• The total value of the prize: ± R45 500-00

1. Designers who are working towards establishing their brands in the South African Creative Fashion Industry.

2. Designers who have been in business for less than ten years.

3. Designers with a fashion design diploma or degree, or five years of design experience.

4. Previous SAFW New Talent Search Finalists may enter for a second or third time.

5. This is a ladieswear competition - no menswear designs will be accepted.

6. Previous winners cannot enter again.

PHASE 1

• Designers must complete the online entry form on the SAFW website and download the full competition brief.

• The deadline for the online registration is Thursday the 12th of December 2024 at 17h00.

PHASE 2

THIS SHOULD BE THE INTRODUCTION TO YOUR ELECTRONIC PORTFOLIO ENTRY

Please use our points below as headings in answering the questionnaire.

• What is the name of your  brand?

• How long have you been in business?

• What is your design style?

• Describe your brand in no more than 150 words

• Motivate your sustainability model

• Where did you study?

• What is your fashion background (short CV)?

• Who is your target market?

• What are your price points (wholesale and retail)?

• Do you currently supply any stores? If yes, which stores (store name and location)?

• Have you showcased your work before? If yes, list the year, and the season you showcased, and the platform you made use of.

• Designers must prepare a  one pager on each of the following:

• Motivation – why are you entering 

• Inspiration -  where did you draw your inspiration from

• Mood board 

•      Seven Technical Sketches – one look per page 

• 15th of January 2025 at 17H00 is the deadline for all electronic portfolio/storyboards to be submitted 

• 22th of January – a panel of judges will view electronic portfolios submitted and select the semi-finalists

• 29th of January – semi-finalists announcement

PHASE 3

• Semi-finalists selected will have to produce a 7-look Collection that must be ready for the fitting in Johannesburg on the 10th April 2025.

• You will be notified of the fitting venue where a full collection including shoes and accessories must be presented to the judging panel for final judging.

• Any collection that is not complete by then will be disqualified.

• The winner will be announced at the New Talent Search showcase on the 24th of April 2025

An online registration form must first be completed at www.safashionweek.co.za

Make sure you complete and submit this to SAFW before end of day on the 12th of December 2024 to secure your entry. 

All material for your electronic portfolio submission must be accurately collected in a single document, in the following order:

• CV/Resume presented in English

• Copy of I.D.

• Copy of your Diploma or Degree

• One page motivation

• One page inspiration

• One page mood board 

• 7 pages technical sketches of your Collection.

• One page - Photographs of previous collection: No styling is allowed – only your garments on a mannequin or model – outfits must be seen clearly from the front and from the back.

Terms and Conditions

• The Collections registered SAFW New Talent Search, may not be submitted or associated with any other fashion competition or fashion week platform taking place in South Africa during 2025/2026

• The collection must be womenswear.

• There are no prefixed styles or categories

• All garments developed by finalists must be the following sizes:

  • To fit a standard size 34 model perfectly

  • Shoe sizes will only be provided, by the show coordinator once models have been selected approximately 4 weeks before the show

  • In case of selection, the outfits will have to be made in total accordance with the sketches and technical details presented

  • Correct and accurate execution of outfits is essential, and if thought to vary greatly from the enrolled shapes and designs, the selected contestant will be disqualified

Please use our points below as headings in answering the questionnaire. You are welcome to add any information/visuals to enhance your portfolio.

• What is the name of your brand?

• How long have you been in business?

• What is your design style?

• Describe your brand in no more than 150 words.

• Motivate your sustainability model.

• Where did you study?

• What is your fashion background (short CV)?

• Who is your target market?

• What are your price points (wholesale and retail)?

• Do you currently supply any stores? If yes, which stores (store name and location)?

• Do you make use of social media? If yes, what are your Twitter/Instagram, etc. handles, website and Facebook URL’s

• How many followers do you have?

• Have you showcased your work before? If yes, list the year, and the season you showcased, and the platform you made use of.

• Where do you see your brand going in the next 1 – 5 years and 1 – 10 years?

• Your Collection Concept/Inspiration – include a comment on the concept/inspiration of your collection, with fabric and/or images that inspired the collection. This can also be in the form of a mood board.

INTRODUCTION:

Comment on the concept of your collection, with material and/or images which have inspired the collection. This can also be in the form of a mood board.

SKETCHES OF THE COLLECTION:

• One page - Full description of how you have incorporated the brief of sustainable fashion in each look

• You must submit 7 outfits/looks

• Number all your sketches (printed/drawn in colour) from 1 to 7 and label them with your name, surname, and label name

• Include complete technical descriptions with colours and fabric details (please include samples/swatches) of each sketch.

• Include price points – Wholesale and recommended retail prices

THINGS TO BEAR IN MIND…

• Excluding your Portfolio - Your actual Competition entree must not be longer than 6 pages (excluding seven collection sketches).

• Remember to send high-quality material! Sketches and photos

• Anything from your portfolio or entrée, could be published on the SA Fashion Week website and social networks or used in the media.

• Finalists’ portfolios will remain the property of SA Fashion Week, but the intellectual property will certainly remain yours. It will in no case be returned.

• You must submit 7 outfits/looks

• The Collections registered SAFW New Talent Search, may not be submitted or associated with any other fashion competition or fashion week platform taking place in South Africa during 2023/2024

• The collection must be ladieswear.

• There are no prefixed styles or categories

• All garments developed by finalists must be the following sizes:

To fit a standard size 34 model perfectly

Shoe sizes will only be provided, by the show coordinator once models have been selected approximately 4 weeks before the show

In case of selection, the outfits will have to be made in total accordance with the sketches and technical details presented

Correct and accurate execution of outfits is essential, and if reckoned to vary greatly from the enrolled shapes and designs, the selected contestant will be disqualified

1. By enrolling in the SAFW New Talent Search, you guarantee the authorship of your project. 

Should you be found guilty of plagiarism, you will be automatically disqualified.

SA Fashion Week takes no responsibility for accusations of plagiarism coming from third parties. The applicants will retain the copyright of the enrolled collection.

2. SA Fashion Week (SAFW) reserves the right to disqualify any contestant at any time if they do not respect the terms and conditions of the entry requirements. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the safety of all submissions, SAFW cannot be held responsible for any damage/theft of garments or designs that may occur during transport, selections or during the finals at SA Fashion Week. If selected as a SAFW New Talent Search finalist, contestants are required to carry out   all further arrangements (transport, etc.) and other obligations timeously.

3. The SAFW New Talent Search is handled exclusively by SA Fashion Week CC - which reserves the right to rule on any issue pertaining to the competition and not covered by these entry requirements. 

4. The choice of the Judges is final 

5. Flights, accommodation, and transport will not be provided for finalists or semi-finalists.

Should you not be based in Johannesburg you will have to pay for your flights to the fittings and the show.

You must register online before end of day on the 12th of December 2025. Follow the link: new-talent-competition-application

Should you experience any technical difficulties contact Natalia:

content@safashionweek.co.za or natalia@safashionweek.co.za

12th of December 2024:       Online registration closes at 17h00

15th of January 2025:           Portfolio submission deadline 

Electronic Portfolios to be sent to:content@safashionweek.co.za

22th of January 2025:         Portfolio judging and semi-finalist selection at SAFW

29th of January:         Semi-Finalists announced

10th of April 2025:         Fitting date and final Judging – venue to be confirmed

23th of April: 2025:         Venue TBC 

24th of April 2025:         SA Fashion Week New Talent Search showcase and announcement of the winner