The Herald (South Africa)

More oomph for this year’s Bay fashion week

- Gillian McAinsh mcainshg@tisoblacks­tar.co.za

THE second Nelson Mandela Bay Fashion (NMBFW) Week is set to give the city’s fashion pack more bang for its buck in October.

There will be live fashion TV streaming online, an extra night of shows, more prizes and improved technology all announced yesterday by the creative quartet behind the event.

Project manager Llewellyn Williams, 28, said the group had learnt from its first event held at the Tramways Building last year and had big plans to put NMBFW on the map nationally and even globally with the second, to be held at the same venue from October 12 to 15.

His team includes model Lwethu Tenge, 25, who will manage and train models, Sanelisiwe “Max” Mdashe, 24, who will liaise with media and bloggers, and photograph­er Kagiso “Kiso Metsi” Gqadu, 26, who is the art director.

“From its inception, NMBFW is making an impact and creating tangible results,” Tenge said at the launch yesterday afternoon, noting the first-timers had pulled off last year’s show with a minimal cash budget.

“The focus is to enhance and build on the viewer experience and to continue to raise production values, working closely in consultati­on with local profession­al teams.”

She said the two young designers who won retail space at a national fashion chain last year had both been scouted at NMBFW.

This year, The Space will again select a designer to showcase his or her range, and if it sells well, there is a chance to supply the retailer nationally.

“Our main sponsor, the Mandela Bay Developmen­t Agency, has come to the fashion party and will be funding the winner’s range to be showcased at the retailer to the value of R60 000,” Tenge said. Williams’s dream to compete globally is also one step closer with the launch of the city’s first fashion online television channel, Bay Fashion TV, set to be operationa­l by the middle of next month.

“The significan­ce of online TV is that it can be streamed worldwide and a live stream of the entire NMBFW will be exclusive to Bay Fashion TV,” Williams said.

The significan­ce of online TV is that it can be streamed worldwide

 ?? Picture: GILLIAN McAINSH ?? LEADING THE PACK: Organisers, from left, Llewellyn Williams, Sanelisiwe Mdashe, Lwethu Tenge and Kagiso Gqadu launched the second Mandela Bay Fashion Week yesterday in Central
Picture: GILLIAN McAINSH LEADING THE PACK: Organisers, from left, Llewellyn Williams, Sanelisiwe Mdashe, Lwethu Tenge and Kagiso Gqadu launched the second Mandela Bay Fashion Week yesterday in Central

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