Durban has a G-star certified tailor who will fix

DURBAN will have access to a certified tailor with a specialised skill to repair all G-star RAW denims free of charge.

He will replace broken zips, repair seams inside the legs and crotch, fix worn hems and attach new buttons.

The popular brand embarked on a search in May for three of the country’s best tailors who would have the opportunity to attend a workshop at the global headquarters in Amsterdam to learn everything RAW denim, acquiring specialised skills.

The individuals were selected from Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg to ensure that customers in each city had access to a G-star Certified Tailor for their repair and tailoring needs.

This week Sabelo Shabalala was announced as the chosen one from Durban. Originally from the Eastern Cape, he was raised in Durban and obtained a DUT qualification in fashion and textiles. He said he was thrilled to have been selected and was looking forward to going to the Netherlands to further his skills and knowledge.

“I saw a post on social media about the programme a few months ago. I decided to apply immediately… I wasn’t sure if I would even be shortlisted for the programme due to the amount of competition but everything worked out well,” he said.

He said this would be his first visit to Amsterdam: “I’ve heard a lot of great things about it, so I’m looking forward to seeing the culture and people, but most of all I’m looking forward to seeing the G-star headquarters and learning from the experts themselves.

“G-star is a huge company with a big family of customers. I'm sure that I will have my hands pretty full with people coming for repairs. I’m looking forward to it and I expect to learn a lot through this experience,” he said.

Ryan Anley, G-star RAW’S general manager for Africa and the Middle East, said what set Sabelo apart from the more than 300 submissions was his experience in the tailoring space.

“He submitted a great portfolio. One of the main requirements was experience as a tailor and having a studio space easily accessible for customers. Sabelo ticked all the boxes,” he said.

The tailors leave for Amsterdam on August 30. Anley said offering free repairs to their customers was one of the responsible initiatives furthering the brand’s journey towards circularity.

“G-star hopes to empower and support local entrepreneurs while expanding the life cycle of denim to help reduce the ever-growing fashion footprint,” he said.