Celebrating an empowering initiative that has been 10 years in the making.

His name is synonymous with the greatest personalities and influences of our time, and his heart is as big as his presence. Gert-Johan Coetzee is one man whose talents put him in high demand by fashion enthusiasts and celebrities alike. From dressing some of the most recognised and powerful people like Oprah Winfrey, Zozibini Tunzi, and Kourtney Kardashian just to drop a few names, his craftsmanship, creativity, and hard work have seen him soar to heights unimagined.

Still in his pursuit to excel and continue being an inspirational national treasure, Coetzee founded and partnered up with the North West School of Design in 2009 to establish a bursary program that now celebrates its 10-year anniversary. For the 2023 academic year, Gert has once again opened the chance for 1 lucky design hopeful to apply for the bursary with the aim to develop and nurture South African talent in the fashion field and allow students the opportunity to start lucrative careers in the space. The chosen candidate will study for 3 years with the North West School of Design and will be required to enrol in 2 internship programs each year during recess at the Gert-Johan Coetzee studios.

“The reason I ignited the program is that I noticed how there are so many great bursary programs out there that offer immense knowledge and it simply just ends there. That information is never followed through into the workforce and that is the reason I wanted my bursary program to be different and more focused on the internship that I offer. The student not only gets to study where I studied and familiarise themselves with the foundation that I received, but they also get the opportunity to come to my studio in Bryanston to experience the practical side of design execution, the creative processes around it as well as the grit it takes to run a fashion business.”

Who can apply

Matriculants interested in pursuing a career in fashion are welcome to apply given that the below pre-requisites are met:

• Applicants must be South African citizens
• Applicants must be fluent and be able to write English
• Applicants must have completed matric or are currently in their matric year.

How to apply:

Hopefuls can apply for this momentous opportunity through the Gert Johan-Coetzee website: https://www.nwsd.co.za/gert-johan-coetzee-fashion-bursary/

Winners will commence their first semester in January 2023 at the North West School of Design and hopefuls are encouraged to submit their applications before the official closing date.

NOTES:

PAST WINNERS.
Previous winners of the bursary are employed in various sectors of the fashion industry, mass-production factories, assistant designers, studio managers, owners of their own stores, retail industry specialists, and fashion lectures, as well as prospering to own and run their own fashion brands.

Testimonial from the past winner:
“My name is Xoliswa Kawuleza, I was a recipient of the Gert-Johan Coetzee Bursary scheme in 2016 to resume my qualification in Jan 2017.

This for me was a step closer to achieving my goal of owning my own fashion business. I had mixed feelings as I didn't know what to expect but it was an amazing journey from the day, I started classes at the Northwest School of Design right up to the time I went in for my internship at the Gert Johan Coetzee studios in Linden.

This opportunity gave me a great head start as I am now a founder of a Vintage Boutique that is growing in leaps and bounds, I am also in the process of coming up with a resort collection.

I will always be grateful to Gert and the whole family at North West School of Design for the exposure and for pushing me beyond what I knew I could stretch”

PRUDENCE KAU – 2013 FDesign
Owner and founder of Rachel James Couture

JOHN-WAYNE KEYSER – 2013 FDesign
Owner and founder of JKW Couture and 2nd Year design fashion lecturer - NWSD

CHRISTOPHER GILL – 2015 FDesign
Assistant Designer and Manager at the Gert Johan-Coetzee studios

XOLISWA KAWUZELA - 2017
Owner and founder of Zawo’s closet

ANDREA BEYERS – 2017 FDesign
Designer – The Foschini Group design center

PATRICK FERGUSON – 2018 FDesign
Assistant designer at Anel Botha Couture

MILAN JORDAN – 2019 FComm
Assistant designer at Sade Jansen Fashions

LUNGILE NTSHANGASE – 2020 FDesign
Final year at NWSD

BULELWA QUPE – 2021 FDesign
2nd year at NWSD

MARUMO LEPELE – 2022 FDesign
1st year at NWSD

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