Fashion Impact Fund Grant Recipient:
African Academy of Fashion
Cape Town, South Africa
Organization: African Academy of Fashion
Website: www.taaf.co.za
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Program Focus: Garment construction and fashion accessory production training
Participants Trained: 20
Program Duration: 12 weeks | April 2022 – June 2022
The Fashion Impact Fund provided a grant to support a workforce education program delivered by the African Academy of Fashion, an accredited training institution based in Cape Town. The program focused on providing practical training in garment construction, accessory making, and fashion production techniques, equipping participants with skills needed to pursue professional opportunities within the fashion sector.
“The African Academy of Fashion delivers hands-on training that equips participants with the technical skills needed for careers in fashion production. By supporting programs like this, the Fashion Impact Fund helps strengthen workforce participation while contributing to the growth of Africa’s creative and manufacturing industries.”
— Kerry Bannigan, Founder, Fashion Impact Fund
Education
The African Academy of Fashion delivers hands-on training designed to equip participants with technical skills in garment construction, accessory making, and fashion production. The curriculum guides students through each stage of garment development, beginning with accessory design and equipment introduction, and progressing to sewing techniques, embroidery, pattern creation, fabric cutting, and final garment construction.
Through practical instruction and real production exercises, participants develop proficiency with industry tools and techniques, including sewing machines, embroidery equipment, and pattern development processes.
Workforce
The program prepared participants with practical capabilities that support workforce readiness within the fashion sector. By combining technical instruction with applied production training, the program helps bridge the gap between education and professional opportunities in the fashion and creative industries. Graduates gained skills that enable them to pursue employment in fashion production, retail, and related creative industries.
Manufacturing
By strengthening technical garment production skills, the program contributes to building the skilled workforce required to support South Africa’s textile, clothing, and fashion production sectors. Workforce training initiatives such as this help expand the talent pipelines necessary to sustain regional manufacturing ecosystems.
Impact
The program ran for 12 weeks of practical training and supported 20 participants in developing technical skills in garment production and accessory design. Notably, 80% of participants were placed into employment within the fashion sector following completion of the program, demonstrating the effectiveness of applied training connected to workforce opportunities.
GRANT RECIPIENTS
Pauline and Tamburai Chirume
With over 40 years of cumulative experience, Pauline and Tamburai Chirume have developed The African Academy of Fashion to deliver programs in the fashion and creative business sector to boost employment while reinvigorating the traditional artisanal craft and manufacturing industry in Africa. The mother daughter duo have trained over 100 women since 2019 and helped to place 60% of them in employment in the fashion industry and continue to provide ongoing support for graduates who now enter the workforce fully prepared and equipped for the world beyond the program.
Prior to this their collaborative journey led to the creation of ONEOFEACH in 2014 as a premium African fashion brand. Tamburai’s background in fashion retail, styling background and banking investments helped conceptualize ONEOFEACH with Pauline’s experience as a fashion designer and contemporary visual artist with over 35 years' experience.
“Youth unemployment in South Africa is rising rapidly and currently stands at 66.9%. We believe there is a responsibility to equip people with the skills needed to start their own businesses or pursue careers within the creative industries. We are grateful for the support of the Fashion Impact Fund in helping us expand training opportunities and contribute to this important work.”
