Threads

General information

#WhatsYourNext move in the fashion industry? We know you are business material. We are SA’s ‘Business of Fashion’ accelerator. #RaisingTheStandard.

Threads stitched by standard – in association with Mercedes-Benz SA.

Threads is a 12-week accelerator program focused on the ' Business of Fashion '. The program is open to all fashion entrepreneurs with existing business operating in South Africa, and is taught simultaneously from four regional classroom hubs: Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and Port Elizabeth.

Through an academic approach combined with action learning and practical insights, the fashion entrepreneurs will be educated on key business principles - from financing to marketing and pricing to logistics handling - directly from business professionals and thought leaders. Through field trips across South Africa, the entrepreneurs will get exclusive access into the behind the scenes operations of some of the countries' top creative businesses.

At the end of the program, an esteemed panel of judges will select the best performing entrepreneur. The winning entrepreneur will spend 3 months engaging with press and acting as a guest speaker throughout business and fashion academic institutions.

In June 2018, the winner will be taken to Milan on a trade trip for meetings with industry buyers, visits to relevant trade and fashion fairs and an internship with a renowned fashion business. Additionally, the winner receives an SME start-up pack courtesy of Standard Bank, will become a Mercedes Benz brand ambassador and drive the brand new vehicle for a 12 month period, as well as benefit from continued mentorship by the Threads team.