Stich to success
NEW INITIATIVE: Fashion designer Fabian Ah-Sing NEW INITIATIVE: Fashion designer Fabian Ah-Sing
Brooklyn ward councillor and qualified designer, Fabian Ah-Sing has launched a new initiative aimed at giving young fashionistas a boost in the fashion industry, called Stitching for the Future.
Fabian, who is originally from Blue Downs, says as a young man he remembers how he had to sukkel to make his designs a reality and now wants to give back by providing a free four week courses to aspiring designers.
Fabian studied fashion design at CPUT and in 2014 his designs graced the stage for the Africa Fashion International fashion week in a collection he named Elipsis.
Growing up with parents who were active in assisting their community, Fabian says he has always had people and their well-being at heart and so after completing his degree, he worked for the DA in the hopes of becoming a councillor.
After the municipal elections in 2016, Fabian was elected councillor for ward 55.
He says while life as councillor keeps him besig, he has never forgotten his first love.
The course will provide 12 contact sessions with volunteer Cape designers, where the group will be taught basic designing, pattern making and sewing.
Fabian says they can only accommodate 10 students, and applicants will have to submit a summer and winter design to show what they can do.
“We are not going to ask the students to do fancy stuff like showstoppers. This is about giving them the basic skill set so they can take their talents further. "So we look at things like how do you do a basic shirt, how do you do a zip and so on.”
When the course is completed, the students will get a chance to show off their work during an exhibition. Fabian is also appealing to the public for donations of fabric, scissors and second hand sewing machines.
“When they complete the course, we would like to give them the sewing machines so they can go out and do their thing. When I was a young designer I remember how it felt to have all these ideas but having no means to make these designs come to life.
“So not only will they get training, but they will have the tools to make a success of it.”
The deadline for applications is 17 August. To apply, or if you would like to make a donation, email [email protected].