The Music In Africa Foundation (MIAF) and Goethe-Institut have joined forces to launch the Sound Connects Fund, a new initiative aimed at fostering collaboration between the music and fashion industries. Thanks to the financial contribution of the European Union and the support of the Organisation of ACP States, the Sound Connects Fund has now funded a project called “Fashion Meets Sound” in Namibia.
Fashion Meets Sound is led by members of the MTC Windhoek Fashion Week team, who are travelling to eight regions across Namibia to empower and discover young, aspiring musical artists and fashion designers. The project’s primary objective is to encourage a stronger relationship between Namibia’s music and fashion industries.
The team will visit schools across Namibia and ask learners to submit sketches of their fashion designs. Selected designs will then be created by local designers in the respective towns. All schools in the country’s 14 regions are eligible to participate in the project.
In addition to empowering young creatives, Fashion Meets Sound also aims to provide a platform for local musical talents such as emerging artists and sound engineers. Through masterclasses, these talents will be given the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals in their respective fields.
The project also includes photographers, videographers, animators, sound engineers, and DJs. The team has already visited three major regions in Namibia, hosting masterclasses, networking mixers, and pop-up shops that attracted musicians, fashion designers, DJs, stylists, photographers, and other creatives.
The project kicked off in August 2022 and will end in August 2023, with the most impressive pick from each of the eight regions being given the opportunity to participate in the biggest annual fashion event in Namibia, the MTC Windhoek Fashion Week.
Fashion Meets Sound seeks to explore the important role music plays in fashion, as most designers use music to create their collections and portray their emotions. To participate in the initiative, interested parties can reach out to MTC WFW on social media or via email at marketing@whkfashionweek.com.
