EL designer a finalist in Threads competition
EAST London designer Yamkela Lize, owner of Refined Revolt which manufactures clothes and handbags, has been chosen as one of 12 hopefuls in the Threads Stitched by Standard Bank competition.
The four-month competition, which began at the end of October and will conclude in March next year, sees 12 fashion entrepreneurs educated in business management and marketing by international Universita Cattolica of Milan in a part-time 12-week programme.
At the end of the programme, the participants will be required to present a business case in front of the judges and a review committee, with the one who demonstrates the most business acumen and capabilities chosen as the overall winner.
The winner’s prizes include an all-expenses paid international trade trip to Europe, where they will be introduced to various fashion industry stakeholders, a Mercedes-Benz car brand ambassadorship for 12 months and a Standard Bank Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) starter pack.
The programme is open to any entrepreneur within the fashion value chain which includes designers, importers, resellers and informal traders.
According to Lize, she first learned of the competition when she was e-mailed by the Threads team asking if she would be keen to take part.
Immediately showing interest, Lize said she and 19 other shortlisted candidates went to Port Elizabeth for the first leg of the competition, a one-day business bootcamp. From there, three candidates were chosen to enter the final competition, up against other industry players from around the country.
“Since we started, this programme has been nothing but informative. We’re learning business principles which we can apply to our businesses,” she said.
“Every day we learn something new and when we return to class we’re asked how we applied the last lesson to our business. I’m really learning so much.”
Lize, whose art studies at university touched on textile design and graphic design, said her love of fashion started at a young age.
A textile designer who operates from a Southernwood studio, Lize specialises in clothes and leather bags.
“I remember when we played house as children, I would always volunteer to make the outfits.
“It was something that I loved doing and as I got older I wished I could do it all day long.
“I decided to study art at varsity because I saw that it touched on textile design and had a bit of graphic design too.
“All of my bags are genuine leather. I love leather and I love working with it. All of my bags have leather on them, some have crochet and leather or a bit of textile and leather.
“It doesn’t matter the shape or the size, they are always leather. I do design some but I also custom-make bags as well.”
Winning the competition would be a huge boost to her business. —