Cape Town Fashion Week is proving to be a major provider of employment opportunities - even before its opening on 20th August 2003. Hosted at the newly opened Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town Fashion Week will launch the South African clothing industry into the grand prix" circuit of fashion weeks. The event will help to position Cape Town internationally as an emerging world class city, creating and strengthening links with other international fashion weeks such as the Paris Fashion Week.

Significant employment spin-offs are expected as 39 South African and two African designers individually showcase extensive collections that each employ an average of 120 people to bring their designs to life.

Gavin Rajah, event convener, says: ''This employment figure tracks the process from sketch to finished garment on stage - jobs are provided for textile workers, seamstresses, beaders, embroiderers, models, choreographers, lighting technicians, stage hands, set builders, ushers, photographers and web developers amongst others.''

The South African clothing industry experienced a difficult restructuring process during the nineties. However, with the turn of the century, the industry now enjoys annual sales of some R11 billion, with Cape Town responsible for R2.5 billion, making it the country''s leading clothing and fashion region and the ideal host for a celebration of South African fashion

Following the international trend, local manufacturers are turning into ''design houses''. This entails subcontracting an increasing amount of their design and speciality work, as well as marketing and sales activities to smaller operators. Subsequently, by no longer relying on in-house employees, the employment net is spread over a wider area.

This year Cape Town joins the international fashion week circuit - New York, London, Paris and Milan Fashion Weeks being the industry focal points - as it offers local designers the opportunity to showcase a full collection of 40-60 garments each. Rajah believes this presents both local and international buyers with a broader view of each designer''s scope and the opportunity to order more garments. "And as sales figures rise, more work is created and monies are filtered back into the furthered upliftment and development of the South African clothing industry," he says.

Alderman Clifford Sitonga, a member of the City of Cape Town''s Mayoral Committee responsible for Economic, Social Development and Tourism as well as one of the key sponsors of Cape Town Fashion Week, said: "We believe that this event will provide the ideal platform for local designers and manufacturers to market themselves to both international and domestic buyers that will frequent the show - placing SA designers and their work on the international fashion circuit. We have placed our seal of approval on Cape Town Fashion Week, labelling the show an ''official
Cape event."

He added that the event would make a significant impact towards addressing a range of growth and development opportunities within the clothing industry, while positioning Cape Town internationally at the cutting edge of fashion and design.

"We are very excited to see the inclusion of the exhibition component at the Cape Town International Convention Centre for the first time this year as this will provide the designers and other local businesses with opportunities to sell to both international and domestic buyers.

Through Clotex, the Western Cape Clothing and Textiles Service Centre, and the Cape Craft and Design Institute, the City has ensured that a limited number of highly talented small businesses will also receive great exposure at the exhibition," concludes Alderman Sitonga.