2. What was the inspiration behind your career choices?
I’ve always loved media so it was obvious that I would end up in the communications
industry, working in radio, TV, print and digital media. As a young girl I was often
found with a mic in my hand and even tried fixing the TV that wasn’t broken. Strange
coincidence that I worked in a broadcast area where my technical skills and voice
would present itself in a career. As for fashion, I was born in the industry with a dad
who was a designer until he retired. Growing up around cardboard, brown paper,
scissors and material was the norm. Still very proud of my reversible waist jackets and
dresses for high school market days. I’m inspired by what Africa has to offer the
design industry of the globe through its culturally diverse heritage. We are able to cater
to a vast arena of consumers as the inhabitants of South Africa are from all corners of
the globe.
3. Over 20 years of media behind you how has it differed to when you started in
the field to where media is today?
Much has changed in this sector, from using cassettes to mini discs, to computers in
radio broadcasting and moving from analogue to digital and satellite broadcasting in
television. Social Media has evolved the broadcast medium and allowed anyone to
reach a global audience. Media today is an exciting space to be in, and it’s anybody's
playground where you can be a director, producer or presenter of your own show. I’ve
worked across radio, print, television and online and found that the theory and
workflow of all these broadcast mediums are the same, the only thing that changes is
the tools we use to get the job done. I’ve worked in various positions from
Transmission Scheduler, Sales, On Air Management, Technical, Final Control, Media
Planning, Station Management, Editorial, Marketing, Social Media Management etc.
Change is inevitable in these fields of work and that’s what excites me!
4. Why fashion?
There was a gap in the marketing of our South African fashion industry. It wasn’t seen
as something belonging to our South African culture, something to be proud of. We are
a very diverse country and have much to offer the globe in a truly South African design
aesthetic. With so many creatives churning out designs, they’ve also had to find ways
to market themselves. There are the lucky few who go through the reels of paperwork
and receive opportunities to trade globally, then there are those who are not aware of
the routes to take, to get the right attention. Hence the start of Style Africa, a platform
which recognises the talent, creativity and beauty of our design industry that aims to
promote, develop and support designers by introducing them to local and global
market and retail opportunities.