to qualify for the special price of R8 000.

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The Developing Designer course runs for 8 consecutive weeks; start date to be confirmed and negotiated with interested learners. Isabelle and her team will personally assist learners for 5 days a week; 9am to 3pm. Learners will be required to complete certain projects in their own time. Classes will consist of a maximum of 5 students.

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Foreseeable expenses:

According to extensive research we would recommend you budget between R10'000- 20'000 for starting up your brand. Expenses include:

• Capsule collection

R500 towards fabric for sampling

R3000 towards fabric for production

Consumables (card, tape, cotton...)

R580 for 1 day for sampling of collection

R1720 for 3 days for production of collection

• Brand identity

R2000 Photo shoot with professional model and photographer, 20 edited images

R300 towards printing of business cards

R1000 towards printing of labels 

• Business administration

R200 towards printing costs

Basic contract consultation

• Retail platform

Rail space at Oh!PEN DAYS

 

Additional optional costs:

Learners might wish to invest more than their allocated budget into their collections; none of these are essential to starting up a fashion brand.

• Consumable costs that exceed allocated budget

• Specialised machinery required

• Extra trims and finishes

• Website hosting costs if required

 

Required tools:

• Laptop with MS Excel and CorelDraw, or other similar design program, installed and basic working knowledge of these programs 

• Transport

• Design, pattern and sewing equipment; sketch pad or visual diary, scissors, rulers, notcher, tracing wheel, measuring tape, clutch pencil, NT cutter, permanent markers, pins…

 

Personal notes from Isabelle:

• Wear comfortable shoes.

• Be presentable; not that this should be a problem for an aspiring designer.

• Pack lunch, coffee and tea will be provided.

• Allow adequate traveling time, traffic is something everybody has to deal with.

 

This course is an amazing opportunity, one which should not be taken lightly. I am allowing you into a very personal space and imparting trade secrets, knowledge and contacts that have taken me years to build up. I am giving you the opportunity to learn and experiment in a controlled and contained environment. If I think of the amount of money I lost making mistakes, I want to cry. And I am aware this course is not cheap, but it is a drop in the bucket compared to the money you could waste if you don’t have the knowledge I am willing to share. You need to be willing to commit; this is a 3 day a week course, but I will expect you to work 7 days a week. Running your own business is 24/7 and this is a sneak peek into my realm; it is a mad one but also one I wouldn’t exchange for the world. Join me on this journey and let us show the world what South African fashion designers can achieve.