Young fashion creatives proudly exhibit in George

Gallery

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS - An inspiring display of beautiful and creative fashion designs filled the Sayer's Hall at the George Museum on Friday and Saturday, 24 and 25 October, as part of the first-ever Garden Route Fashion and Creative Expo.

The event was a collaboration between Linda and Danie Greyling of Reflekt Model Management and Reflekt Development Division (a non-profit), and the Elizabeth Galloway Academy of Fashion Design from Stellenbosch.

It gave about 25 students of Elizabeth Galloway the opportunity to take part on the same platform as celebrated designers such as SA Fashion Week designers Belinda Venter and Artho Eksteen, as well as Jessica Sheppard of Oddity, who is known for her collaboration with Mr Price.

The collaboration between Reflekt and the academy has been running over 12 years through the Reflekt Model Gala and Fashion Expo.

"With this year's expo, we wanted to give emerging creatives exposure and confidence to succeed, and highlight the diverse talent emerging from the Garden Route. The expo served as a powerful platform for networking, learning and working together.

"Visitors had the opportunity to engage directly with designers, entrepreneurs and mentors in the fashion industry to gain insight into the real-world workings of the fashion and creative industries," said Linda.

She said the region has a growing influence in South Africa.

Thalitha Potgieter with some of her 100% wool designs. The miniskirt is from sheepskin and the top from felt fabric that she made herself. She crocheted the dress from wool she spun herself.

Among the exhibitors was a former Georgian, Carla Hanekom, who studied at Elizabeth Galloway Academy and is currently a junior facilitator there.

"My exhibit was inspired by my upbringing in George. I used familiar objects and fabrics I had thrifted in George. It is vintage-inspired, but at the same time fashion forward and wearable by today's cool girl."

Zandalee Cook was creative with vinyl, cotton blend, foil and heavy twill.

Hanekom relied heavily on craft-inspired and old-time techniques such as crochet, knitting, appliqué and patchwork.

"I used waste fabrics and scrap yarns, which is a big narrative in collections now because of sustainability. One should be able to wear a piece for a life-time. There is a constant battle against Chinese imports, and it is a pity that Western fashion drowns out cultural dress."

She said a teacher at Outeniqua High, Vanessa de Kock, used to encourage her in her passion for fashion design. "Her encouragement convinced me it could be a full-time occupation, and this is what I am doing now."

Thalitha Potgieter from Riviersonderend collaborated with farmer Ian le Roux from that area to use fleece from his sheep to spin her own wool. From this she crocheted a beautiful dress that won second place at the 2025 OVK Wool Innovation Competition.

She also makes her own felt fabric to use in her designs. She works at Gerber and Co, a wool processing plant in Paarl.Danie and Linda Greyling of Reflekt. Photo: Carla Hanekom