Unstitched Podcast EP2: When Fashion Isn't a "Hobby" - The Fight for Respect in South African Design
Unstitched is back with Episode 2, and this one gets personal. Hosts Amy, Yadah and Rachel sit down to unpack a question almost every creative in South Africa has had to answer at some point: why isn't fashion taken seriously as a real career?
Episode two is live now, and it digs into the realities of studying and working in fashion in South Africa, from the financial and institutional hurdles students and designers face, to the lack of local support and resources, to the outsized influence Western fashion still has on African creativity. The hosts also get into parental expectations, the way consumers perceive fashion as a profession, and why uplifting local designers and cultural storytelling matters more than ever in this industry.
If you've ever been told your creative career is "just a hobby," you're not alone, and this episode is for you. From well-meaning family members to strangers who ask when you're getting a "real job," creatives in South Africa face a particular kind of doubt that this conversation tackles head-on.
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 Thursday. Two episodes in, four 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 two is out now. Come undone with us:
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