Getting schooled
Superstar designer David Tlale is on a quest to find a new assistant designer – aka The Intern.
David Tlale knows what’s hot and what’s not. That’s why he’s turning his style eye to the world of reality TV, but his new show The Intern (2017- current) isn’t just about helping a young wannabe designer get their foot in the door. “We’re out to launch a career. We want someone who’s going to add their own flair to the fashion field,” explains David. And there’s the added benefit for the designer (and the winner): he or she will join the David Tlale fashion house. But before that crowning moment, there’s the small matter of the show. David travelled across the land to find 12 young sewers, stitchers and future couture masters and put them through a 13-week internship programme…
What inspired this show? We wanted to document the journey to starting out in the fashion industry. It’s tough and incredibly competitive to break into and we wanted the audience to see how hard these youngsters work to get their clothes on the runways. How is your show different from other fashion series like Project Runway (2004current)? This isn’t just a competition. It’s an internship programme and the “contestants” are here to learn. We’re teaching the interns new techniques and adding onto what they already know. This is a lot more than getting one designer on the road. You’re no stranger to having cameras in your space. Filming is hectic. I’m not one for the cameras but I had to get used to them in my face all the time [Laughs]. What personality traits were you looking for in the finalists? We wanted someone who is willing to learn, who is able to take constructive criticism. The winner is going to join our team and we wanted someone who’ll work well with us. And what is your favourite part of the show? Profiling the talent our country has to offer. I can’t wait for everyone to see the international surprises!