By The lights came on at the Johannesburg City Library, and fourteen emerging designers from the David Tlale Academy stepped into the spotlight.
Their collection, dubbed “The Intern,” was shown alongside designs of the House of David Tlale at South African Fashion Week. This was an exciting moment for the interns and a powerful reminder that the road to fashion’s biggest stages can begin with the right skills, support and opportunity.
For David Tlale, the night carried its own sense of return. Twenty years after winning SAFW’s New Talent Search, he opened his collection with a new generation of designers from his Academy beside him.
This runway moment is part of a wider partnership between Absa and the David Tlale Academy. Together, they have supported over 100 unemployed young people from Gauteng with technical garment-making, entrepreneurship and business skills, helping connect training to real opportunities in the clothing and textile industry. Fourteen emerging designers now have access to entrepreneurship education support to help them launch and grow their own fashion enterprises.
For Academy intern Rebaabetswe Mitshane, the programme has brought industry exposure, stronger technical skills and valuable new networks. Paulinah Masalane, another intern, says this programme has helped build expertise across the fashion value chain. Her confidence as a designer, garment producer and merchandiser is also elevated.
. The showcase highlighted what is possible when emerging creative talent is supported with technical training, mentorship and industry exposure. Each intern had the opportunity to present their work alongside the House of David Tlale, gaining valuable visibility and demonstrating their readiness to participate in South Africa’s fashion industry.
“At Absa, we are committed to advancing economic inclusion by creating opportunities for young people to develop market-relevant skills and access industry platforms, said Nonhlanhla Magagula, Head: Corporate Citizenship Programmes. “Through our partnership with the David Tlale Academy, we are supporting emerging designers to build their capabilities, expand their networks and gain exposure that can help translate talent into sustainable economic opportunities and help shape the future of South Africa’s fashion and textile industry”.
Congratulations to every young designer, creator and entrepreneur who brought their work to the runway. “The Intern” was more than a collection: it was a first look at what comes next.