Top 10 Fashion Schools In South Africa

People tend to think that the only place where one can get fashion education or do a course in design is through varsities, wrong…

There are quite a few independent institutions that offer design as a course and focus solemnly on design throughout the institution.

Here’s a list of the Top 10 Fashion Schools In South Africa and a little insight on them and what they’re about:

Xela Fashion Studio & Design College

Xela Fashion Studio & Design College is located in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga. Owned by Alex Asman, Xela offers individually designed and made to measure garments as well as a City & Guilds Accredited Fashion Design College.

The studio has over 24 years experience in creating unique one-off couture wedding and evening gowns that are tailor made to suit every bride or ladies individuality and style. Our list of services includes:

Wedding gowns
Evening & matric dance dresses
Affordable imported gowns
Special occasion outfits
Men’s suits & accessories

Xela Fashion Design college offers a comprehensive 2 year full time in-house diploma course in Fashion Design where students will learn everything about design, pattern cutting, garment manufacture, fabric and business skills. Xela also offers a online course which consists of 10 modules to completed in your own time

LISOF School Of Fashion

The Bachelor of Arts degree in fashion offered at LISOF is a fully accredited, three-year, full-time programme that offers a wide range of subject choices relating to fashion and retail, from the design disciplines through to business courses. Their fashion design courses have been developed by leaders in the fashion and retail industry, with a view to giving you the most progressive and relevant education in the business.

FEDISA

Unlike most fashion schools, FEDISA was created to deliver more than seamstresses and pattern-makers to the world of fashion. FEDISA graduates can today be found in an astounding array of careers across the globe. These range from working for Marchessa and Diane von Furstenburg in New York to Christopher Cane in London and Haikure in Milan. There are designers and buyers, editors and stylists, visual merchandisers, fashion technologists, and costume archivists. The list of local and international employment opportunities simply keeps growing for these talented and committed graduates.

FEDISA has also significantly contributed to exporting some amazing talent into the African continent, with Temitope Williams – FEDISA Graduate 2009 launching her own teaching academy in Lagos, Nigeria recently.

Another great success of FEDISA is the large number of students that the institution continues to attract from across South Africa and the rest of the world. To this end FEDISA has developed students from as far afield as the United States of America, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, Slovakia, Jordan, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe and many more.

Design School Southern Africa

The Design School Southern Africa was founded in 1990 and grew to become one of the leading design education and training institutions in the country priding itself on providing an inspirational learning environment. Whether it’s Fashion Design, Graphic Design or Interior Design, we will nurture your talent for planned creativity.

Today the Design School Southern Africa is a key division of The Independent Institute of Education (pty) Ltd which is the country’s largest, most accredited provider of private higher education.

Graduates from DSSA are well respected throughout the design industry. This is because they enhance your natural ability with real-life skills, giving you the best chance to break into the professional world.

Design Academy Of Fashion

Established in 1999, Design Academy of Fashion has built an outstanding reputation as a leader in fashion education. Constantly striving towards excellence and innovation in the ever-evolving world of fashion, DAF is committed to adequately prepare its students for the fast pace of the industry, staying on the forefront of design, technology and business savvy. A holistic curriculum, combined with the expertise of passionate facilitators, ensures the equipping of each student to enter any sphere of interest within the fashion industry, from the commercial retail environment to the art of the avant-garde.

In an industry where networking and making the right internal connections are vital for optimal exposure for those about to enter the world of fashion, DAF’s reach into the industry is well established, with a commitment to making every opportunity available to its students. Based in Woodstock, the creative hub of Cape Town, the academy is set up in an open studio layout, where the students’ workspace lends itself to an inviting, interactive and inspiring environment. With a contemporary approach to education, the academy fosters inquisitive learning through the encouragement of individual development, focusing on the strengths of each student and the exploration of possibilities in engaging the world through their unique point of view as designers.

Uberglam Fashion Design School

UberGlam School of Fashion Design in Gauteng offers sewing classes, patternmaking classes, fashion illustration classes. Courses are flexible and specifically aimed at individuals who are eager to learn about fashion design and sewing without the stress of exams and overdue assignments.

Studio 05 School Of Fashion

Studio 05 is a Fashion Design Institution in South Africa that provides theoretical grounding and practical experience in the Clothing Design and Manufacturing industry. Aimed to grow and develop local talent and educate students with a tertiary qualification. Situated in Rosebank, Johannesburg Studio 05 School of Fashion prides itself in providing the highest quality education in the local fashion field catering for individual attention to grow fashion entrepreneurs. Established in 2003 Studio 05 was created to encourage and nurture the development of emerging Fashion Designers who are equipped with entrepreneurial skills to survive and grow in this constantly evolving industry.

The schools approach to its education module is designed to take into account individual career directions, be it Fashion Illustration, Pattern Construction, Garment Construction, Lingerie, Fashion Branding, Fashion Buying & Merchandising, Fashion Styling and Computer Aided Design. The intensive three year programme gives you not only a reputable qualification, but you gain practical knowledge and insight that enables you to create your own Fashion Brand.

The school also offers part-time evening classes every Mondays and Wednesdays and Saturday day classes designed for corporates wanting to up skill their staff and individual professions with a passion for fashion. Lecturers are all active Fashion Designers, who together hold a wealth of knowledge in the fashion industry.

North West School Of Design

NORTH WEST SCHOOL OF DESIGN and its courses offer an entrepreneurial learning experience with real relevance.

From 1998 to 2012, NORTH WEST SCHOOL OF DESIGN has successfully offered a 2 year diploma course in Clothing Design & Technology as a private FET (Further Education & Training) college. In 2012 NORTH WEST SCHOOL OF DESIGN changed its status from FET to INTERNATIONAL with the registration and accreditation with City and Guilds of London.

NORTH WEST SCHOOL OF DESIGN offers a variety of part time courses but our main focus is the fulltime training of future fashion professionals in either Fashion Design and Fashion Management & Communication (&buying)

Both these 3 year fulltime courses have been developed with the vision that South African Fashion education not only needed to globalize, but also needed to adapt to the changes within the global fashion industry. Both these fashion degree equivalent courses have been developed with focusing on globalization of communication, supply and manufacturing in the fashion industry.

Spero Villioti Elite Design Academy

Unique and revolutionary in its approach, dedicated to educating graduates with the confidence and conviction required to lead in the fashion industry. Extensive training with attention to detail and refinement offers our students multiple and diverse job opportunities within the realm of the fashion world. Not only creatively but also intellectually. This distinguished experience is only available to a gifted few who are chosen for their creative flair, passion and talent.

Modelled on Spero Villioti’s personal experience of running a successful fashion brand in South Africa for more than 25 years, the Academy presents a sophisticated and deliberate combination of design flair and entrepreneurial ability that equips our graduates with the expertise to thrive in the fashion industry. Solid, pure principles that forecast success rather than fixate on idle, impractical peripheral content. The teaching and learning approach incorporates valuable project-based, work-integrated learning wherein the students can apply skills that they have learnt within the confines of a successful fashion business.

Car loans

Buying a car is one of the most important purchases you are likely to make,

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• you are aged between 23 and 70 at date of application

• you have a minimum income of £12,000 (gross) per annum

• you have a bank/building society current account from which you can pay direct debits

• you do not have a history of bad credit such as County Court Judgments (CCJs) or bankruptcy

• you have been a permanent UK resident for at least 3 years

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Buying a used car What you need to think about

Buying a used car is a great way of cutting the cost of your driving as most new cars lose around 40% of their value in the first year.

But there are risks so it's important to take your time rather than rush into any deal, and to buy as far as possible with your head rather than your heart.Pitfalls when buying a used car

Clocking

Clocking is the illegal practice of winding back the odometer on a high–mileage car to increase its apparent value and asking price. Every 1,000 miles removed increases the value substantially.

Car cloning

Sometimes one car is given the identity of another by replacing the number plates with those from an almost identical vehicle - same make, model and colour.

More about car cloning »

'Cut–and–shut'

This is when the remains of two or more cars, which have usually been accident–damaged and written off by insurers, are welded together, then illegally given the identity of one of the wrecks.

The cosmetic work is often outstanding, and it's usually very difficult to spot a 'cut–and–shut' from the outside.

For absolute confidence, invest in a Car Data Check to unearth the car's history.

General advice

Wherever you choose to buy, here are some general tips on buying a used car.

Budget carefully

Get insurance quotes and check car tax rates before signing on the bottom line, and remember to factor in the cost of any work that might be needed too.

If you're going to borrow money to buy the car it's a good idea to get loan quotes before you go out to view any cars.  That way you'll know what you can afford and will be able to tell whether any finance a dealer offers you is good value or not.

Do your homework

Check price guides and compare similar cars in the classifieds so you know as much as you can about the value of different cars to avoid being overcharged.

Websites like www.honestjohn.co.uk  and model-specific forum sites can be a useful source of information on 'common' faults and 'what to look for' tips but bear in mind that the few who've had a poor experience are likely to be more outspoken than satisfied customers.

Don't view a car in the rain, in poor light or at night

You won't be able to check the condition of the car properly if it's wet – water hides scratches, dents and other problems. Make sure you can see the vehicle clearly and from all angles.

Ask about service history

Most cars require some work during the year so the owners of a car a few years old should have amassed quite a sheaf of garage bills for work or parts as well as previous MOT certificates, and records of regular servicing.

• If there's no history then ask why
• Does it look like there might be a persistent fault that still may not have been fixed?
• Does the history tell a consistent story

V5C registration document

Insist on seeing the V5C vehicle registration document - this shows the registered keeper and not the legal owner.

Is the present keeper the person selling you the car?  If not, then why are they selling the car for someone else?

The V5C shows the details of previous keepers too. Why not contact them to find out more about when they owned the car, what work was done and how many miles they covered?

Previous keepers have no vested interest so you should be able to rely on their comments

• Did they service it regularly?
• Did they do much mileage in it?
• Did they have any major servicing work done it?
• Did they modify the vehicle in any way?

MOT

If the car is three years old or more make sure there's a continuous series of annual MOT 'certificates'.

If you know the vehicle's registration number and the document reference on the V5C you can check a vehicle's MOT status and history (back to 2005) online too.

You can also enquire by telephone.  Contact the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency's (VOSA's) MOT status line on 0870 330 0444.

Recorded mileage should increase steadily with age and be consistent with the service record. If it doesn't then you'll want to hear a good explanation as to why not.

Buyer beware

Be wary of anything that seems like a real bargain, or has a very low mileage for its age.  There are bargains to be had but in general, if a deal looks too good to be true then it most likely is.

If you know what you're doing then use our DIY inspection checklist to help make sure you look the car over thoroughly.

To help you avoid making a mistake when you buy a used car, get an AA Car Data Check and consider getting the car looked over by AA Vehicle Inspections.

Cam belt

As well as regular (usually annual) servicing there are major items like brake fluid, antifreeze or cam belt renewal that car manufacturers specify should be done at a certain age or mileage.

If a cam belt breaks the resulting damage is likely to run into several thousand pounds and often a new engine is the most economical option.

Some engines have a chain instead of a belt and these normally last the life of the vehicle but if your car does have a belt you must make sure it's replaced when due.

If a belt change was due but the service record doesn't show clearly that it was done then the belt will have to be renewed as soon as possible for peace of mind.

Handbook

Make sure the handbook is in the car as they can be expensive to replace if not.

Look to see how the security system works – and check that it does – and find out what keys were provided when the car was new. Modern car keys can cost £100+ to replace so if you need more than one key and there's only one available you'll need to bear that cost in mind.

Coloured 'master' keys provided by some manufacturers to programme new spare keys for the car are even more expensive to replace.

There's no legal requirement but cars are generally sold new with at least one spare key.  If there's not a spare now ask why not.

Test Drive

The test drive is your only opportunity to check the car's general mechanical condition and to find our for sure that it meets all your needs:

• Is the driving position comfortable?
• Can you reach/operate all the controls easily?
• Do the child seats fit?
• Does the golf bag or pushchair fit in the boot?

More test drive advice »

Look carefully

Misaligned panels or mismatched colours on doors, bonnet and tailgate can indicate that the car has been repaired after a shunt.  Traces of spray paint on door handles, window seals and mouldings can indicate repairs too.

If the engine bay looks like it has recently been power-washed clean the owner could be trying to remove evidence of fluid leaks.  A check under the bonnet after a lengthy test drive should reveal any problems.

Seats and carpets

Seats and carpets can always be cleaned, or even replaced, but stains on internal fabric head–linings are impossible to remove completely.

If seat covers have been fitted, check underneath them for signs of damage.  You can get seats replaced but this can be very expensive, particularly if they contain electric motors or airbags.

Locking wheel nuts

Adaptors for locking wheel nuts have a habit of going missing. If locking wheel nuts are fitted, check to make sure that the special adaptor required is included with the toolkit and that it fits the nuts.

Don't be pressured into buying

There are always other vehicles out there so if this one doesn't feel right in any way it's time to walk away.

Be wary of and don't be swayed by  'sob stories'  like change of job, break-up of relationship, moving aboard, new baby on the way and so on.  The bottom line is that you're buying a car to help yourself, not anyone else.

Before you hand over any money

• Agree collection/delivery arrangements
• Confirm exactly what's included in the price
• Confirm any work that the seller has agreed to do
• Make sure you get a receipt showing vehicle details, price, terms of sale and the seller's details.

DOLLY CASTRO---THE PERFECT GIRL

Justin Bieber & Miranda Kerr — Their Flirty, ‘Dirty Texts’ Revealed

Oh no! It appears that Justin’s flirty relationship with Miranda Kerr went past that one night after the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show!

Justin Bieber and Miranda Kerr allegedly partied all night together after the fashion show in Nov. 2012, which caused serious tension in her marriage withOrlando Bloom, ultimately leading to their split. Miranda and Justin have also been exchanging “dirty texts,” according to a new report!

Miranda Kerr & Justin Bieber’s Texts Revealed

“She’s always very flirty with him” and they have exchanged “dirty texts,” a source told Us magazine about Justin and Miranda. Ouch!

Miranda, 30, was spotted backstage after

the fashion show, hanging with Biebs — who was 18 at the time.

“Orlando heard that there had been some ­flirting ­going on and he wasn’t exactly thrilled about it,” a source told The Mirror.

Additionally, she apparently taught their son Flynn how to say “Bieber Fever.” After the show, Justin reportedly headed to a nearby hotel where he partied with Miranda all night.

Miranda & Orlando Bloom: What Went Wrong

The tension over Miranda’s friendship with Justin was one of many factors that played a part in their separation. “Orlando and Miranda argued non stop,” a source told Us.

The couple publicly formalized their separation on Oct. 24, 2013, saying that they had been apart for months.

“Despite this being the end of their marriage, they love, support and respect each other as both parents of their son and as family,” the statement continued.

And we’ve seen the family functioning! Just two days after the split, they stepped out with their son looking happy and even shared a sweet kiss on the cheek goodbye.

It’s good there’s no hard feelings between them — even if she was dirty texting Justin!

Orlando Bloom 'Throws Punch' At Justin Bieber Following Miranda Kerr Cheating Rumours

Orlando Bloom and Justin Bieber got into a heated altercation at Cipriani in Ibiza, Spain, early Wednesday morning, reports The New York Post. 

After getting in each other’s faces—Bloom threw a punch at the pop star—the crowd cheered.

According to witnesses, Bloom took a swing at Bieber after the singer, 20, made a rude comment about Bloom’s ex, Miranda Kerr. But a source close to Bieber insisted that the comment was only made after Bloom took a swing, and missed.

“Justin was at one table, and Orlando was at another,” a source told The New York Post. “But when Bieber and his party were later walking past Bloom’s table, Orlando refused to shake Bieber’s hand.” Then “Bieber said something rude to Orlando, like, ‘She was good.'”

Another source close to Bieber countered that the pop star didn’t make any rude comment and that “Justin didn’t even know Orlando was there. But when they saw each other, it was Orlando who was just being an a-hole to Justin.”“They got in each other’s faces and there were words,” a source said. “But they were separated by their entourages.”

A witness captured 30 seconds of the confrontation on video and posted it to Facebook. It shows Bloom walking away from Bieber and being separated by a crowd, but then turning back to walk to Bieber and confront him.“When they were back together again, Orlando threw a punch at Bieber,” said a source. “He just tried to pop him! The whole place cheered.”


The bad blood between the two began in 2012 when Bieber was seen getting flirty with Kerr after a Victoria’s Secret fashion show, which reportedly led to tension between the model and her Hollywood star husband, Bloom. The married couple then separated in October 2013.

Then newly single Bloom was seen spending time with Bieber’s ex-girlfriend, Selena Gomez, in April.