SAFW MAKES HISTORY: PIERRE CARDIN JOINS SOUTH AFRICAN FASHION WEEK

AUTUMN | WINTER ’27 MEDIA RELEASE - 29 SEPTEMBER 2026

A landmark collaboration connects 24 South African Fashion colleges with one of the great names of Paris couture.

Johannesburg, October 2026 - South African Fashion Week has secured the most significant international collaboration in its history. For the first time, the Paris fashion house of Pierre Cardin will work directly with South African fashion students, mentoring the next generation of local designers and opening a door that has never before been open to them.

Through SAFW’s relationship with 24 fashion colleges across South Africa, 20 shortlisted students will take part in a workshop led by Pierre Cardin’s Artistic Director and designers from the Paris fashion house. Focused on education, mentorship and knowledge transfer, the programme gives young South African creatives direct access to international expertise and creative exchange, building skills and capability across the wider fashion value chain.

The winner receives a three-month internship at Pierre Cardin in Paris. The programme concludes in the Young Designers Award Grand Finale and a Pierre Cardin Couture presentation at SAFW AW27.

For a student in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban or Gqeberha, this is not a certificate. It is a working address in one of the cities where global fashion is decided.

“SAFW has always believed a sustainable, designer-led fashion industry must be built from the bottom up. Strengthening education and skills ultimately strengthens the entire value chain.” Says Lucilla Booyzen, Founder of South African Fashion Week

WHERE DESIGN BECOMES INDUSTRY

Founded in Johannesburg in 1997, South African Fashion Week has spent close to three decades building something larger than a seasonal showcase. It has evolved into a year-round industry ecosystem connecting education, designers, manufacturing, media, retail and consumers - infrastructure designed to move creative talent towards sustainable business.

This season, SAFW Student Competition finalist garments will be exhibited alongside the AW27 Collections, placing students and colleges directly inside the wider fashion industry environment rather than at the edge of it. Through the access to market SAFW provides - connecting them with established designers, media, buyers, retailers and sponsors - young creatives gain the exposure and relationships they need to build their brands.

Together, the SAFW Student Competition, the Pierre Cardin Young Designers Award and the SAFW New Talent Search Powered by J.C. Le Roux form a single connected pathway: from education, to emerging talent, to independent designer, to sustainable fashion business.

This is the purpose of the SAFW ecosystem - to turn talent into business, connections into opportunity, and visibility into value.

THE AW27 SEASON

The Pierre Cardin collaboration runs within an AW27 season that brings together established South African names and new creative voices across couture, tailoring, menswear, streetwear, heritage, craft and contemporary African design - from Black Coffee, Ephymol and Colleen Eitzen to Sober Design House marking 20 years, and a first for SAFW in David Tlale and Interns by David Tlale, which brings five young designers onto one stage. The AW27 Collections conclude with Gert-Johan Coetzee’s show on Sunday, 25 October.

The nine emerging designers of the SAFW New Talent Search Powered by J.C. Le Roux show this season as the next step on the same pathway.

PARTNERS AND SPONSORS

SAFW thanks its sponsors and partners - Primedia, 947, 702, J.C. Le Roux, BioMedical Emporium, NARS and Carlton Hair - for their continued support, which is more important than ever to the future of South African fashion. For SAFW, the right partnership begins with shared values and a clear understanding of what the platform stands for: it must offer value to partners while creating opportunities for South African designers and supporting the wider industry.

“Primedia is honoured to partner with South African Fashion Week in our shared commitment to supporting South Africa’s vibrant creative industries. Through the influential voices of 947 and 702, we aim to elevate the businesses behind South African design by bringing their stories into the wider cultural and consumer conversation. This partnership reflects our belief in the power of media to not only celebrate artistic talent but to foster entrepreneurship and sustainable industry growth, contributing meaningfully to the development of South Africa’s fashion economy.” Kelvin Storie, Chief Commercial Officer, Primedia Broadcasting

“JC Le Roux is proud to partner with South African Fashion Week, a platform that celebrates the originality, talent and entrepreneurial spirit of South African designers. Both our brands share a deep connection to celebration, fashion and local creativity. Through this partnership, we are delighted to raise a glass to the designers shaping the future of South African fashion and to the industry that supports them.” says Kim Brandt, Brand Manager: Wines.

ABOUT SOUTH AFRICAN FASHION WEEK

Founded in Johannesburg in 1997, South African Fashion Week is a designer-led industry platform connecting fashion education, emerging talent and established designers with mentorship, manufacturing, media, retail and market opportunities.

Where Design Becomes Industry.

Media enquiries: nicola@safashionweek.co.za, media@safashionweek.co.za