After months of hard work, the much-anticipated A Grade Capsule Collection has finally been revealed. Under the mentorship of Chivas Venture and Zaid Osman, founder of Africa’s largest youth culture expo, Sneaker Exchange, as well as Grade Africa, the collection was a great success. With sustainability in mind, all materials for the collection were sourced in Africa, which aligns with Chivas Venture’s fundamental mission of uplifting African communities and alleviating poverty through job creation.
The refreshed Chivas Venture which piloted in South Africa, worked with cultural leader Zaid Osman & upcoming young fashion designers, to both nurture their skills and provide unique opportunities. This year, Robyn Agulhas (SinChui ), Josh Badenhorst (Very $orry), Sabelo Shabalala (Richman Skyf) and Lindiwe Modiselle (STRSELLE) started their journey at “Grade School”, a knowledge-sharing workshop in Cape Town where they met fashion industry giants that spoke to them about the business of fashion, branding, and design and textiles. The apprentices also learned the importance of collaboration. Chivas Venture has given the apprentices skills that will see these young, nu-wave fashion entrepreneurs develop their brands and improve their communities.
One of the key activities of the workshop was a Proudly South African webinar focused on localisation as a driver of economic growth. As all the apprentices’ brands are authentically South African, that not only tell diverse South African stories through fashion and design but are also made of materials sourced in Africa, Chivas Venture and Proudly South African have partnered to authenticate the brands with a Proudly South African badge. This badge not only authenticates the brands but also highlights the work they do towards making social and economic change, and aims to encourage street culture lovers to continue buying local, and support the South African economy, upflifting & creating opportunities for local youth.
Although the collection is complete, the learning will not stop. To add to the wealth of knowledge the apprentices have gained since March 2021, the young designers will have an opportunity to complete the Strategic Brand Building course at Vega School. This partnership aims to encourage and upskill the apprentices to brand themselves in the most professional and impactful way possible.
Chivas Venture, Zaid Osman, and the apprentices have proven to be the perfect blend for success. This initiative changed the lives of the apprentices and will continue to inspire the youth at large to live boldly and work towards their dreams.
The A Grade Capsule Collection is available to shop online: https://www.chivas.com/en-EN/the-venture
Click here for terms and conditions to our competition to win a course at Vega Business School.
