The Head of the Department of Fashion Design at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) addressed the first Italian Design Day held in the city on Thursday, 2 March 2017. The event for interior design professionals focused on the theme “Italy and South Africa: a comparison on prospects and professional itineraries in Fashion Design”, at the Wits Art Museum in Johannesburg.

Dr Desiree Smal, Head of the UJ Department of Fashion Design, said she hoped the event can represent a starting point for a further cooperation between the Fashion and Design Schools in South Africa and NABA Milan. “We hope to see students and teachers exchange, scholarships and bursaries, as well as other initiatives aimed at promoting the education programmes in this sector; and future professional opportunities for local designers both from Italy and South Africa,” she commented.

The main topics that were addressed during the discussion were the special features of the fashion system in Italy and South Africa, the impact that globalization has on the fashion industry and the role of education in the formation of the growing number of professionals.

The debate was moderated by Gianni Mariano. The Italian speakers included Dr. Nicoletta Morozzi, from the Fashion Project Area of Fashion Design at NABA Nuova Accademia Belle Arti in Milan. She is active in fashion, design and art, also curating exhibitions such as “Do-it-de-jibun” Muji Atelier in Tokyo and “Straight-Wrong” at the Milan Triennale.

South African speakers included UJ’s Dr Smal and Ms Lucilla Booyzen, Director of the South African Fashion Week.

Italian Design Day was organized by the General Consulate of Italy in Johannesburg in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute in Pretoria, the Milan Triennale and South Africa Fashion Week, as part of a global Italian cultural iniative.