The Emerging Creatives Program has whittled down a list of 400 great applicants from different spheres – fashion designers, architects, furniture designers, illustrators, jewelers and many other young talents originating from South Africa.

One of them is (1) Maeve Roseveare’s – a jewelry design graduate from Stellenbosch University. Her jewelry line emphasizes self-teaching, alternative shapes and this year’s collection was inspired by her trip to Asia. The jewelry has a very delicate look to it and is made using bass, sterling silver, semi-precious beads and silk ribbon.

Another designer’s handcrafted jewelry line is made from hand-cut, recycled brass. It belongs to (2) Gisele Human, who happens to be a self-taught jewelry designer and a full-time copywriter. Gisele named her jewelry line WAIF and her inspiration comes from the asymmetrical laws of nature.

(3) Zinhle Nxumalo is a very inspirational designer, not only due to her designs, but also her endeavors. Her fashion is not simple, as it mostly involves flat textile, however, what gives it interest and uniqueness, is the way she braids and weaves the fabric. Plus, she gives empowering speeches in high schools, which aim to inspire children through the realm of fashion.

This next designer’s work is very original and noble as well. The creative strategist – (4) Michael Rowlinson’s works are backboned on social entrepreneurship efforts. He is a recent founder of UMBALA, which is a range of blankets for babies. The blankets are decorated with an African pattern and each sold blanket from the collection, goes to one orphaned child.

More African influences can be found in the works of (5) Mieke Vermeulen and the duo of (6) Georgina Campbell & Cebisa Mafukuzela. Vermeulen’s founded company – Bulloca, specializes in minimalistic, hand-crafted products, which range from accessories and ready-to-wear garments way up to body and home products. The other couple (6), was inspired by their own unique and very different lineages, which developed a project called: CROSS.CULTURES. Their creations are combinations of traditional methods of textile creation plus celtic patterns. Those are then combined with Herero and Masaai fabrics to give the Afro-Euro designs a new, refreshing look.

These were only 6 designers out of total 400, however, all of them prove to have incredibly innovative designs, techniques, ideas and they just might be the new era for the fashion industry in Africa.