More to fashion than just clothes, top designer tells TV contestants

IN PARTNERSHIP with SABC 3 and the Fibre Processing and Manufacturing Seta (FP&M), David Tlale’s The Intern will have its launch episode on Wednesday.

In part, the aim of the show is to develop and support the country’s budding design talent.

The reality show had a trailer on social media last Tuesday to create hype and get feedback from audiences. It follows 12 contestants on their journey to becoming Tlale’s next assistant designer.

Tlale said: “Mentorship and understanding that fashion is not just about clothes are critical to the fashion industry.”

The competition was open to both skilled and self-taught designers with a minimum of three years experience and fashion design graduates.

Throughout the show the audience gets to witness 12 contestants, sought from across South Africa and the continent, but residing in this country, as they battle it out for the chance to win the coveted prizes and receive a full year assistant designer position with Tlale.

In each episode, contestants are given a fashion design challenge and are judged based on creativity, originality, understanding of the brief and excellence in execution.

The 12 contestants will be exposed to all facets of the Tlale brand and business, including design, fabric sourcing, range development and production, quality control, marketing and retail, media training and basic business management skills.

The roadshow to find talented fashion designers began in Cape Town on May 22; Durban on May 25; Polokwane on May 29; and Joburg on June 1.

The grand finale will be aired live in a spectacular two-hour special in September when the winner will be announced. Catch

The Intern by Tlale on Wednesday July 12 at 7.30pm on SABC 3.

For more information visit www.theintern.co.za.