Sandra kills two birds with a stone at SAFC

By Albert Sharra

Malawi’s only designer who made it to South Africa to participate at the  just ended inaugural Southern Africa  Fashion Conference (SAFC) Fashion

Sandra, her designs impressed organisers in SA

Week, Sandra Nsonga has killed two birds with a stone by being offered two more contracts to perform at the next two fashion festivals by different organisers.

Sandra who runs Splendour designs in Blantyre has been offered a contract to participate at the SA’s best fashion week called Mercedes Benz later in the year and to perform at the second SAFC Fashion Week in October. 

In an interview, both public relations officer and casting manager for SAFC fashion week, Thandikile Khumalo and Paris Makaringe respectively said they are impressed by Sandra’s performance and they have considered her name for the next fashion week.

“We had a successful festival, we invited 20 models and designers and 13 made it. However, none disappointed and we are proud of Sandra and Tumelo of Botswana. We achieved than what we planned because we managed to get to the townships and the youths were amazed to see fashion, which is mostly enjoyed by those in the city in their yard,” said Khumalo.

The fashion week took place at the Devland Ext 27 Park in Devland city, Gueteng. Five models and designers were in action from 8pm to 11 pm each day from April 30 to May 4 in different categories namely Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Snow white and Cruella.

Sandra who also performed at the inaugural Malawi Fashion Week showcased her work in Cinderella category and according to an interview she did with one of the SA’s best private radio station, Metro FM, the young lady inspired participants and organisers of other fashion events. 

“It was a great experience and I am happy that most people were impressed by my work. Organisers of Mercedes Benz fashion week approached me right away and I am swayed and ready to maintain the reputation,” said Sandra in a phone interview on Tuesday.

SAFC Fashion Week was founded to create a platform for upcoming designers and models from without and outside SA to showcase their work, while influencing the youths to desist from immorality. The first event recognised the growing talent in Malawi and invited eight models and designers, but due to lack of funding, only Sandra made it. 

“Being our first event, we could not afford to source enough funding, but we managed to source food from Spar, transport and some money to support the designers’ stay,” said Khumalo, adding that the next will be better and bigger. 

SAFC is one of the most promising fashion weeks in RSA and according to organisers it is aimed at promoting upcoming designers while showing the world what Africa has in fashion.