This article contains the top 13 list of fashion schools in South Africa for the year 2023.
The fashion industry has become very competitive and that’s why only the best make it. In order to succeed in this industry, creativity, passion, discipline and courage is not all that is required. Though they will help a lot, you also need professional knowledge and design skills to become a great fashion designer.
This is where fashion schools come in. Studying at an institution with an established background in the fashion and design industry will give you the opportunity to develop your skills and learn from professors and other people who have many years of experience and insights. Studying at top fashion schools is certainly one of the best ways to carve out that niche within the industry while learning about this timeless trade.
When it comes to fashion, Africans have a great taste for fashion and as such their impact in the fashion industry can not be overlooked. Africans have produced great designers. South Africa is one African country that has made a remarkable impact on the fashion industry. From Johannesburg to Cape Town and everywhere in between, South Africa is an abode for fashion.
The aesthetic style of the country varies because of the many nationalities and ethnic groups. Often trained in major South African cities, designers also embrace thick fabrics like wools and tweed. The country has produced numerous designers like Thabo Makhetha-Kwinana, Henriette Botha, Buda Malete, Nicholas Coutts, Mathew Kieser, etc. Apart from having renown designers, South Africa has a lot of world-class fashion schools. This article will be centred on fashion schools in South Africa.
Below are lists of fashion schools you may wish to consider in South Africa.
1. SPERO VILLIOTI ELITE DESIGN ACADEMY
This Johannesburg based fashion school is accredited tertiary educational institute led by the renowned Spero Villioti, who has run a successful fashion brand for more than 30 years and has international affiliations with Parsons School of Design, New York and London College of Fashion.
These global connections enable Villioti Fashion Institute to expose students to a vast network within the fashion industry and ensure they are at the forefront of the fast-paced world of fashion. The school is dedicated to educating graduates with the confidence and conviction required to lead in the fashion industry. Extensive training with attention to detail helps to offer students multiple and diverse job opportunities within the fashion world. Not only creatively but also intellectually. This distinguished experience is only available to a gifted few who are chosen for their creative flair, passion and talent.
They offer a number of qualifications and fashion courses tailored to all the needs and trends of the industry. The Institute offers 18 short courses, whilst offering the traditional Diploma in Fashion and a Bachelor of Fashion both for 3 years.
2. LONDON INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF FASHION (LISOF)
The popular LISOF offers a Diploma in Fashion which is for a duration of 3 years, a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion 3 years and a Bachelor of Arts Honours in Fashion 1-year full time or 2 years part-time. A variety of short courses earning you a Higher Certificate are also offered for eighteen months with evening classes. The six month short courses in Make-up, Creative Design, Pattern Design and Garment Construction are held on Saturdays.
3. FEDISA
FEDISA offers a Bachelors Degree and a Bachelors of Arts Honours in Fashion. Unlike most fashion schools in South Africa, FEDISA has significantly contributed to exporting some amazing talent into the African continent and beyond. One of which is Temitope Williams, a FEDISA Graduate 2009 who launched her own teaching academy in Lagos, Nigeria a few years back.
Most of her graduates are known to work for powerful designers, from working for Marchessa and Diane von Furstenburg in New York to Christopher Cane in London. The list of local and international employment opportunities keeps growing for these talented and committed graduates.
Apart from producing graduates who are found in an astounding array of careers across the globe, another great success of FEDISA is the large number of students that the institution continues to attract from across South Africa and the rest of the world.
4. STUDIO 05 SCHOOL OF FASHION
Studio 05 which was established in 2003 and located in Rosebank, Johannesburg, is a Fashion Design Institution in South Africa that provides theoretical and practical experience in the Clothing Design and Manufacturing industry whose goal is to grow and develop local talent and educate students with a tertiary qualification. Studio 05 was created to encourage and nurture the development of emerging Fashion Designers who are equipped with entrepreneurial skills to survive and grow in this constantly evolving industry.
The school’s approach to its education module is designed to take into account individual career directions, be it Fashion Illustration, Pattern Construction, Garment Construction, Lingerie, Fashion Branding, Fashion Buying & Merchandising, Fashion Styling and Computer-Aided Design. The intensive three-year programme gives students a reputable qualification as well as practical knowledge and insight that enables them to create their own Fashion Brand. Lecturers in the school are all active Fashion Designers, who together hold a wealth of knowledge in the fashion industry
5. CAPE TOWN COLLEGE OF FASHION DESIGN (CTCFD)
CTCFD was established in 1965 which makes it the oldest standing fashion college in South Africa. In CTCFD, students are offered a variety of options when studying which includes a 1-year certificate in Foundation Fashion Design, a 3-year Diploma in Fashion Design, with the option to extend this to an Advanced Diploma. In 2016 CTCFD introduced a 2-year Diploma in Fashion and Garment Technology. Being the oldest fashion school in South Africa, they surely have experienced professionals in the school.
6. XELA FASHION STUDIO & DESIGN COLLEGE
This school which is located in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga and owned by Alex Asman, has over 24 years experience in creating unique couture wedding and evening gowns that are tailor-made to suit every ladies individuality and style.
The college offers a comprehensive and intensive 2-year full-time diploma course in Fashion Design where students learn everything about design, pattern cutting, garment manufacture, fabric and business skills. Xela also offers an online course which consists of 10 modules to be completed at the convenience of the student.
7. DESIGN ACADEMY OF FASHION(DAF)
DAF offers a Fashion Diploma which is obtained in 3 years or a Higher Certificate in Fashion which takes a year to complete. Shorter courses such as Pattern Making and Garment Construction, Illustration and Computer-Aided Design, Styling and Fashion Photography, and Computer-Aided Design can be studied in a span of 4 to 8 weeks.
DAF which was established in 1999 has since built an outstanding reputation as a leader in fashion education. Constantly striving towards excellence and innovation in the ever-evolving world of fashion, DAF is committed to adequately prepare its students for the fast pace of the industry, staying on the forefront of design, technology and business savvy.
Situated in Woodstock, the creative hub of Cape Town, the academy is set up in an open studio layout, where the students’ workspace lends itself to an inviting, interactive and inspiring environment. With a contemporary approach to education, the academy fosters inquisitive learning through the encouragement of individual development, focusing on the strengths of each student.
8. DESIGN SCHOOL SOUTHERN AFRICA
The Design School Southern Africa was founded inp1990 and grew to become one of the leading design education and training institutions in the country. The Design School Southern Africa has campuses within Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Durban. They offer a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design and specialised and Dressmaking short courses.
DSSA is not only a fashion school but they are versatile in other aspects of designing including Graphic Design, Interior Design
Graduates from DSSA are well respected throughout the design industry.
9. NORTHWEST SCHOOL OF DESIGN
The college which is situated in Klerksdorp offers a 3-year diploma in Fashion Design and Part-time courses for students with a busy schedule. Also, the school has a diploma in Fashion Management and Communications and its courses offer an entrepreneurial learning experience with real relevance.
From 1998 to 2012, NORTHWEST SCHOOL OF DESIGN successfully offered a 2-year diploma course in Clothing Design & Technology as a private FET (Further Education & Training) college and in 2012 North West school of design changed its status from FET to INTERNATIONAL with the registration and accreditation with City and Guilds of London. It offers varieties of part-time courses too.
10. SEWAFRICA
They offer a number of options for individuals wanting to enter into the fashion industry. The full-time courses run Monday to Friday with face to face contact hours each day. The hours preceding or following the contact time may be used by learners to complete prescribed tasks and activities or continue with supplementary enrichment exercises that complement the course offered at SEWAFRICA.
However, there are two full-time courses available, each offering a range of skills depending on the student’s level of education and requirements.
The Certificate courses are accredited by Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality, Sports (CATHS) SETA, and the centre is registered with the Fibre Processing and Manufacturing (F, P & M) SETA and the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO).
11. ELIZABETH GALLOWAY ACADEMY OF FASHION DESIGN
The Stellenbosch-based academy offers Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Fashion as well as short courses such as Introduction to Fashion Design and Textile studies which each have their own times and schedules.
The fashion school strives to produce competent design practitioners who are able to work effectively in the fashion industry. Their aim is to equip individuals with the skills and practical experience they require to handle the entire creative process of fashion – from concept to consumer.
The institution’s lecture facilities are equipped with specialised machinery, high-tech computers and wireless internet. An extensive library, media centre and IT infrastructure support the learning experience. In addition, students and staff have access to subscription websites, such as the Worth Global Style Network (WGSN), which offers an online fashion-trend analysis and research service.
The institution’s founder, Elizabeth, recognised that the fashion industry needed educated and well-trained individuals to maintain the high standards of the fashion industry, both locally and internationally. The academy was established in 1996 to address this need. Thus far, the fashion school has gotten National Accreditation from:
The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET); Council on Higher Education (CHE) and the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
12. INSCAPE
The institution offers a Higher Certificate in Fashion which is for a duration of 1 year and a Bachelor of Design in Fashion which is for a period of 3 years. The Institution also runs short courses which include an Introduction to Fashion and Fashion Planning. Inscape Campuses are located in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, and Pretoria
13. UBERGLAM FASHION DESIGN SCHOOL
UberGlam School of Fashion Design which is located in Fairland Gauteng, offers sewing classes, patternmaking classes and fashion illustration classes. Courses are flexible and specifically aimed at individuals who are eager to learn about fashion design and sewing without the stress of exams and overdue assignments.
Their courses are flexible and specifically aimed at individuals who are eager to learn about the elements of fashion design and sewing that interest them, without the stress of exams and overdue projects. At Uberglam age is no barrier as they train people of different ages ranging from teens to those in their 20s and 60s as long as there is passion and desire to learn.
CONCLUSION
People tend to think that the only place where one can get fashion training or do a course in fashion and design is through Universities but that is not so. There are many fashion schools in existence today, whose responsibility is to train people with interest and passion for fashion designing.
Many fashion designers received their training from these schools and have turned out to be household names in the fashion industry. Students in fashion design programs learn about textiles, sketching, sewing, draping, and creating patterns with the help of CAD software. They also learn about the history of fashion, trend forecasting, and the business of fashion. So, do you have a passion for fashion designing and still confused as to the best place to get trained? Your problem has been moved especially if you’re a South African resident. With any of the above fashion schools, you’re sure of getting quality training.
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