Unstitched Podcast EP 3: Why Is African Fashion Ignored?
Unpacking Representation, Western Influence and Local Pride
Unstitched is back with Episode 3, and this time Amy, Yadah and Rachel are asking a question that’s been sitting with them since last episode: why does African fashion, and South African fashion in particular, still get overlooked, even in its own backyard?
Episode three is live now, and it’s a big one. The hosts dig into the outsized influence Western fashion capitals still hold over the industry, how design elements borrowed from African, Asian and Latin cultures get rebranded as "innovation" the moment a Western label touches them, and why South African consumers so often reach for the imported basics over the local names doing the actual work. They talk trend forecasting that leaves South Africa off the map entirely, the fragmentation of "African fashion" into competing national fashion weeks instead of one unified force, and what it would take to build a seat at the table on our own terms.
It’s not all critique, though. In signature Unstitched fashion, the episode closes out with the hosts shouting out the South African brands they're genuinely excited about right now, from up-and-coming streetwear labels to Cape Town staples worth knowing.
Meet the hosts
Amy Gajjar is a lecturer at FEDISA Fashion School and the show's main host. She brings the industry and classroom perspective, having spent years teaching the students who are now stepping into the fashion world themselves.
Rachel Motau and Yadah Mungwe are FEDISA students and co-hosts, bringing the voice and perspective of the people actually living the FEDISA experience right now, from studio deadlines to industry firsts.
Together, the three of them anchor a show that sits somewhere between a classroom conversation and a late-night catch-up with people who genuinely have something to say about fashion in South Africa.
Where to listen
Unstitched is available wherever you already listen to podcasts, including:
The Unstitched podcast homepage, where every episode is also hosted directly
If you use another podcast app, search "Unstitched - The FEDISA Fashion School Podcast," it should already be there or on its way.
Don't miss an episode
Season 1 runs six episodes deep, dropping every second Thursday. Three episodes in, three still to come. Whether you're a current FEDISA student, a lecturer, an alum, or simply someone who wants an honest look at what shapes the next generation of African fashion talent, subscribing now means you won't miss a single conversation.
Episode three is out now. Come undone with us:
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