View full report - Fibre2fashion

from international magazines and everyday observation of clothing worn on the street. He
sometimes outsources to CMTs, but most of his products are made from home. He sells
within the informal economy at markets and through two boutiques in Durban. He has not
exported and has not sold any of his clothing outside Durban.
Robbyn Chesler (interview: 15/6/06)
Chesler is a white female in her late thirties, and has been in the industry since 1992. She
had no previous experience in the industry, despite qualifying with a Diploma in fashion
design. She preferred self-employment, so as to have full control over the application of
her creative skills. She used her own savings to start her business, making men’s and
women’s shirts. Because she works alone from home, it can take her a month to finish a
range (consisting of five to six new designs) from concept to delivery. She sells at informal
markets and at private boutiques throughout South Africa, and has exported to the USA,
England, Australia, Germany and Scotland. She currently uses two CMTs in Durban for the
finishing of her shirts (sewing and cutting) while she focuses on the design element of her
garment.
Kim Bromemead (Interview: 16/6/06)
Bromemead is a white female in her early forties. She started her own label in 2004
because she wanted to see her own designs on the shelves after having spent 20 years in
the clothing industry as a designer and patternmaker. Her range, which she sells from her
own boutique, focuses on elegant women’s wear, and her clientele ranges from 15 to 65
years of age. She follows trends to a certain extent, but she designs classic garments that
are unique and endure beyond faddish trends. If she works hard, she can produce about
100 garments a month with the help of commissioned CMTs. She also changes her patterns
frequently so that her range is always fresh and this entices customers to return to her
boutique where she employs one person. She also sells to shops in Cape Town and
Johannesburg and, once a year, has clients who visit from Europe and America who often
buy an entire range.
Rozanne Immelman (Interview: 18/6/06.a)
Immelman is a young, energetic white female in her early twenties who has achieved
numerous successes. She has BA degree in fashion design, and has taken part in the 2006
Sanlam Fashion Week as well as in the 2006 Durban Designer Collection as an invited
designer. She has her own boutique and also sells to several other boutiques across the
country. As yet she has not exported. Immelman started her own label only a year ago but
her work is already well-known throughout South Africa. She has invested her savings from
prize-money won at fashion shows while still a student and by working as a waitress. Her
76