Exhibitions & Events New business South Africa

Barbie nurtures local talent at SSAFW

Sanlam SA Fashion Week (SSAFW) opens on Wednesday ,16 September 2009, and the last show on opening night is the South African celebration of the Barbie 50th anniversary at the De Beers Shining Light Southern African Collection at the Designer Inspired Runway Show.

Here 12 South African fashion designers highlight their unique South African designs as interpretations of the modern Barbie inspired woman. The 12 designers are:

  • Abigail Betz
  • Craig Port
  • David Tlale
  • Gideon
  • Guillotine
  • Heni
  • JJ Schoeman
  • Kluk CGDT
  • Marc & Michael
  • Stoned Cherrie
  • Terrence Bray
  • Thula Sindi

In addition, the University of Johannesburg's (UJ) Department of Fashion Design held a Barbie inspired pink project and competition encouraging students to design something for Barbie for the SSAFW runway.

Sixteen UJ students were selected and assisted financially to design and manufacture their sketches and five of the students' designs will appear on the SSAFW runway, from which an ultimate winner will receive a cash prize.

Barbie opens SSAFW with a showroom at the SSAFW Exhibition, featuring five decades of Barbie.

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