R500 000 Gert-Johan Coetzee fashion bursaries up for grabs

Celebrity designer Gert-Johan Coetzee has dressed A-list personalities including the likes of Kourtney Kardashian and Kelly Rowland. In between creating designer frocks, Gert is on the hunt for two new students to benefit from his bursary programme.

Gert challenged other businesses to invest in education and luxury boutique Luminance has come forward, adding a third bursary to the programme.

"It's so hard to get your foot in the door and the aim of my bursary programme is to pass on what I have learnt, and to open doors for youngsters who have the talent and drive to succeed."

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Applications have just opened for the 2017 GJC Fashion Design bursary and the new GJC Fashion Communications and Buying bursary at the Northwest School of design.

It's the first time he is adding a Fashion Communications bursary, explaining that it will accommodate students who want to learn the business side of the fashion industry. It is this additional bursary that the Luminance Social Responsibility Grant will fund.

“This three-year qualification teaches the business end of fashion – from fashion journalism, marketing and trend forecasting, to buying, event management and online retail aspects,” explains the designer. Both bursaries include mentorship by Coetzee, and the opportunity to intern at his atelier to learn the business from the inside out. The beneficiary of the Luminance Social Responsibility Grant will have a similar opportunity to intern at Luminance.

The three students will receive sewing machines and all their tuition fees and study materials will be covered for the three years of their course.

Last year’s graduate, Prudence Kau, is currently interning full-time at his atelier.

For more information on how to apply for the Gert-Johan Coetzee bursaries and the Luminance Social Responsibility Grant, visit www.nwsd.co.za