{"id":298062,"date":"2026-04-29T12:26:58","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T10:26:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/?p=298062"},"modified":"2026-04-29T12:29:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T10:29:20","slug":"emerging-designers-take-spotlight-at-ecfws-first-pop-up-edition-in-gqeberha","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/emerging-designers-take-spotlight-at-ecfws-first-pop-up-edition-in-gqeberha\/","title":{"rendered":"Emerging designers take spotlight at ECFW\u2019s first pop-up edition in Gqeberha"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

GQEBERHA <\/strong>– Eastern Cape Fashion Week (ECFW) broke new ground with the launch of its first pop-up edition in Gqeberha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Designed as a more accessible and immersive experience, the pop-up edition on Sunday, 26 April, aimed to spotlight emerging designers while building momentum toward ECFW’s fourth official showcase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to ECFW organiser, Busisiwe Nxele, the concept was inspired by the need for greater accessibility and continuity within the province’s fashion ecosystem.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This edition embraced a more intimate, stripped-down format that placed the focus firmly on the garments, the craftsmanship, and the stories behind them,” she shared with the PE Express.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike previous large-scale productions, the pop-up edition introduced a curated fashion market, a daytime showcase, and a non-competitive runway focused purely on creative expression.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The pop-up edition introduced a curated fashion market, a daytime showcase and a non-competitive runway focused on creative expression. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The format encouraged direct engagement between designers and attendees, creating a more personal fashion experience.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event took place at The Gallery on Produce, an industrial-style venue that complemented the conceptual direction of the showcase, blending raw aesthetics with contemporary design.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year’s theme, “Fashion in the Age of AI: A Glitch in the Stitch,” explored the evolving relationship between technology and human creativity.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nxele explained that the theme invited designers to interrogate ideas of authenticity, authorship, and craftsmanship in an increasingly digital world.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It spoke to the beauty of imperfection \u2014 a creative tension between innovation and tradition, machine and maker,” she said.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eight predominantly emerging designers from across the Eastern Cape showcased their work, selected through an open call process based on originality, versatility and creative excellence. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lineup reflected a diverse range of voices from five regions in the province.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Featured designers included Onela Joni (OJ Designs), Thakazelwa Mhlomi (Msaba Emporium), Thandile Ndamase (Thee Kings Inc.) and Mfundo Phama (Love).\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For designer Thakazelwa Mhlomi, founder of Msaba Emporium in the OR Tambo District Municipality, the theme resonated as both a creative and philosophical challenge.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It meant disrupting the norm,” she said. “Artificial intelligence can never supersede human intelligence \u2014 it’s about going back to the basics of true artistry.”\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mhlomi’s collection reflected this approach through handcrafted techniques, including hand-weaving, painting, and braided textures \u2014 emphasising the value of human skill in an AI-driven era.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by emerging designers in the province, including limited funding, a lack of manufacturing infrastructure, and insufficient platforms to showcase their work.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We don’t have factories to produce at scale, and many designers are forced to leave the province for opportunities elsewhere,” she said. “There’s also a perception that what we do is just a hobby, rather than a livelihood.”\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a non-profit initiative supported by the National Arts Council of South Africa, ECFW continued to prioritise development within the creative sector.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the runway, the pop-up edition’s fashion market allowed attendees to engage directly with designers, purchase garments, and build meaningful connections \u2014 bridging the gap between creator and consumer.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, Nxele said, the goal was to redefine how fashion is experienced in the Eastern Cape.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This was about making fashion more personal, more accessible, and deeply rooted in storytelling,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ<\/strong>: Fashion meets compassion at Voice of Courage show<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Eastern Cape Fashion Week (ECFW) broke new ground with the launch of its first pop-up edition in 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