South Africa has a long history of protests, and many have seen the effectiveness of bringing attention to issues that may have been previously overlooked. However, in all of the countless protests that the country has witnessed, never has there been a more stylish frontline of protesters like that of fashion designers marching at Sandton’s Convention Centre during the Buy Local Summit against illegal counterfeit goods. “Do I think this activation is successful? I don’t know, but the thing is, we’ve started, and I believe in big movements.
For them to take off, you have to take the first step,” said Veteran fashion designer David Tlale. On Monday, through the Take A Stand March led by Proudly South Africa, some of the country’s most recognisable designers took to the street in protest. Some of the placards that were hoisted read “Shein and Temu [are] Fong Kong” and “Local is lekker”.
“Today is the first step that we’re saying ‘we want the government to work with us’. We want the community at large to work with us. Also, more than anything else is to say we are proudly South Africans, and we have what it takes,” averred Tlale.
The present designers include Mzukisi Mbane and Palesa Mokubung, with actress Sophie Ndaba in support. ALSO READ: ‘That was a gospel song, you just didn’t know it’ — Kabelo Mabalane on Dubula [VIDEO] Importance of buying local Speaking at the protest on Monday, founder of the Feather Awards and LGBTQI+ activist Thami.
