• WE ARE FSFW
  • BORN INTO CREATIVITY
  • FOCUSED ON STRATEGY

About Us

About Us

FSFW® is a prestigious fashion and lifestyle event held in Bloemfontein with the aim of showcasing the best and most talented designers that Free State and South Africa has to offer. FSFW® encompasses the work of top and emerging local designers. To further promote culture, diversity and creativity.

The main objective of this initiative is promoting the artistic & innovative work of designers, offering them not only a platform to utilize their bestowed talents but an opportunity to reach greater heights through maximum exposure. It does not just focus on glamour but has a bigger cause of using fashion as a medium that brings about change through addressing the issue of tolerance & diversity.

THE RUNWAY

FSFW® will be hosted on the 2nd of November 2024 in Bloemfontein venue to be confirmed.

FSFW EXHIBITIONS

The Face of Free State Fashion Week seeks to find local manufactures to display and sell their products during the Free State Fashion Week runway show

MODEL CASTING

2024 Model castings will be held in October 2024. A sum of 320 male & female models (including kids & plus size models) were casted in 2022, of which 80 were selected to form part of those who modeled during the 2022 Fashion Week.

What we do

DESIGNER SEARCH

A call to emerging, established as well as student designers, from all over the Free State & South Africa, granting them an opportunity to showcase their creative talent on the FSFW® ramp. Of which they receive an opportunity to network & expand their brand to an international audience & whereby they attend workshops to increase their business acumen hosted by various funding agencies.

FSFW® AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

Life Time Achievement Award
Best Student Designer of The Year – FSFW® to contribute R5000 Towards winner’s studies
Best Emerging Designer of The Year
Designer of The Year
Model of The Year

THE TEAM

THE TEAM

WE'RE A WONDERFUL, TALENTED TEAM.

CANDY SMITH
CANDY SMITH

CEO

OLIVIA DIEDERICKS
OLIVIA DIEDERICKS

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

  1. 2018 FSFW Designer of the Year

    Kananelo Dolo – Ruby Gold Fashion House

  2. 2018 FSFW Emerging Designer of the Year

    Lusanda Hleko – House of LH

  3. 2018 FSFW Student Designer of the Year

    Rorisang Ratsui – Free State Fashion Hub

20
STYLISTS
25
PHOTOGRAPHERS
86
MODELS
42
DESIGNERS
FSFW® EVENT CALENDAR 2022

FSFW® EVENT CALENDAR 2022

LIST OF ALL THE EVENTS

FREE STATE FASHION WEEK Media Launch

Date: 28 July 2022  | Venue: BMW Langenhoven Park

Master Class with Palesa Mokubung

Date: 28 September 2022 | Venue: Naval Hill Planetarium

FREE STATE FASHION WEEK Women’s Day Breakfast

Date: 9 August 2022 | Venue: Naval Hill Planetarium

Free State Fashion Week Exhibitions

Date: 27 Sept to 1 Oct 2022 | Venue: TBC

FREE STATE FASHION WEEK Model Castings

Date: 20 August 2022 | Venue: TBC

Free State Fashion Week Runway Shows

Date: 29 Sept to 1 Oct 2022 | Venue: Venue: Naval Hill Planetarium

Applications

Applications

FSFW 2024 - DESIGNER SEARCH

We are proud to present the 6th Annual FREE STATE FASHION WEEK in Bloemfontein the 2nd of November 2024. The Free State Fashion Week is an annual event that combines fashion, tourism, art and culture within the province. The event provides a platform to showcase up and coming and professional designers work. Buyers and sellers to meet and discuss and form business relationships. Free State Fashion week will be held in support of the tourism industry and the growth of local economy, develop skills and job creation within the province, providing opportunities locally, nationally and internationally. Our main goal is to uplift the Free State Fashion Industry and grow it year by year. With your help we are able to do so.
DESIGNER SEARCH APPLICATION PROCESS
1. Complete the online application below.
2. Upload/email a storyboard, inspiration for designs and business profile.
3. Pay application fee and email proof of payment to designersearch@freestatefashionweek.co.za

STORYBOARD
Each designer must upload a storyboard and motivation letter. The storyboard is an A3 representation of your concept and designs (minimum of 5 designs or outfits) of a AUTUMN/ WINTER 2024 range/collection. The storyboard must be as closest depiction of the designer’s vision as this will be the base of curation and selection of designers.

INSPIRATION
Each designer must submit an inspiration of no longer than a page, telling us what inspired their vision and designs according to the theme for FSFW24.

Theme for FSFW 2024 “Rising Above”

A lot of businesses and Fashion entrepreneurs are still trying to recover from what the pandemic brought. It’s important just to pause for a minute, take a deep breath and 'Rising Above’. That's exactly what the theme of 2024 wants to achieve, everyone in the world has gone through so much both in their personal and business lives that we need to take a minute just to breathe and restart with new energy. It is time to rise from whatever we have lost throughout the pandemic and take our rightful place and still manage to Be Human. This will definitely reflect in the various designer collections this year. Designers will be tasked this year to focus on this theme namely “Rising Above” and combine it with African culture, heritage and Diversity. #FSFW2024 #RisingAbove #DesignersOnTheMove

BUSINESS PROFILE
A submission of the designers business profile no longer than 10 pages must be submitted. The proposal must underline the designers work, visions, achievements, social media handles and contact details.

APPLICATION FEE AND PARTICIPATION FEES
Applications are set at R150, please note that if this amount is not paid, your application will not be considered. Upon selection, post-curations, designers selected are required to pay a participation fee of R1500. This will cover show production, coordination, models, media coverage, designer lounge and graphics.

All monies to be paid into the following account:
• Free State Fashion Consortium | Nedbank | Branch code 198765 | Account no. 1229612025 | Cheque account
• Reference: Name and Surname OR Company Name
• All proofs of payment to be emailed to designersearch@freestatefashionweek.co.za
• Please Note all applicants must be 18years and older.

FREE STATE FASHION WEEK MODEL CASTING CALL

DATE: 20 AUGUST 2022

VENUE: MIMOSA MALL ATRIUM

REGISTRATION TIMES 8:00 - 8:55

CASTING TIME 9:00 - 12:00

NON-REFUNDABLE REGISTRATION FEE: R150

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All monies to be paid into the following account:

• Nedbank | Branch code 198765 | Account no. 1229612025 | Cheque account

• Reference: Name and Surname OR Company Name

• All proofs of payment to be emailed to modelsearch@freestatefashionweek.co.za

IMPORTANT RULES:

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1. BRING A COPY OF YOUR Z-CARD OR FULL LENGTH & UP-CLOSE PHOTO

2. AGES 8 to 36 Male and Female

3. CASTING OPEN TO ALL MODELS

4. MINIMAL MAKE UP

5. ALL BLACK OUTFITS WITH HEELS (NO PLATFORMS) FOR FEMALES & SMART SHOES FOR MALES

6. MODELS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 YEARS MUST ACCOMPANIED BY PARENT/GUARDIAN

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NB: No models will be accepted to walk in Free State Fashion Week if they were not CASTED.
#freestatefashionweek #fashioncasting #fsfw22 #mimosamall

CONTACT

CONTACT

WE CREATE BEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR BUSINESS.

Call Us 051 011 9183 Monday–Friday | 9am–5pm (GMT +2)

Visit Us 9 President Steyn Street, Westdene, Bfn 9300