Pick n Pay Clothing continues its steadfast commitment to the growth of the local fashion industry, showcasing its continued support through the sponsorship of The Cape Town Resort Collections, a growing designer runway show, for the fifth year.

The event at Cabo Beach Club this weekend serves as a dynamic platform for unity within the local fashion community while propelling support for burgeoning talents. Gavin Rajah, a respected designer and creative mind, curates the event, featuring up to 15 signature transitional pieces from Cape Town designers and notable talents from other provinces. The line-up included esteemed names like Rajah himself, Maze Collection, Thula Sindi, and emerging fashion innovators such as Noko Malatjie, Mzukisi Mbane, and Kiav Mitoo.

Hazel Pillay, General Manager at Pick n Pay Clothing, says, “This is an investment into the future of South African fashion, weaving together tradition and innovation on a glamorous stage,” emphasising the retailer’s commitment to supporting local fashion and its designers.

“The Cape Town Resort Collections unites fashion in a different way to your traditional fashion shows – it drives a fashion agenda purely focused on a love of design. It lets us celebrate fashion in all its entirety and bridge together value-focused clothing with the greatest fashion,” says Pillay.

The event also served as a runway for Pick n Pay Clothing’s latest Summer range – stylish, on-trend collections at affordable prices, reflecting the brand’s dedication to offering accessible fashion.

Gavin Rajah underscored the event’s significance as an incubator for emerging talent, fostering commercial sensibility and creativity. He mentioned, “The event acts as an incubator for selected young talent and aims to foster commercial sensibility and creativity, with merchandise available for sale immediately afterwards.”

Pillay added that the event aligns with their Futurewear programme, a platform to uplift and grow up-and-coming local creatives, accumulating in them launching their own collection in Pick n Pay Clothing stores. “Initiatives like this are incredibly successful.” Pillay highlighted the transformation of young 20-year-old graphic designer Kiav Mitoo – a 2023 Futurewear designer – who went from relative obscurity to having a sold-out t-shirt range at Pick n Pay Clothing and showcasing his designs on the prestigious Cape Town Resort Collections runway within a year.

At the event, Pillay also announced the 2024 ‘class’ of the Futurewear programme, which Pick n Pay Clothing and Rajah will mentor to produce a limited-edition commercial range that will launch towards the end of 2024. The designers customers can look forward to include Lorde Ndlumbini, a floral designer by trade Ilse Vincent and Yamkela Mahlelehlele, a conceptual designer and founder of KOTR MAISON DE MODE.

This drive to grow South African talent complements Pick n Pick’s focus on sourcing 60% of its range locally by 2028. “Currently, around 40% of our clothing is locally produced, and we’re not stopping there,” Pillay says. “Every year, we aim to increase this as we bolster support for the local economy, job creation, and ultimately to grow the local fashion industry.”

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