The SME space is filled with entrepreneurs from all industries. From manufacturing and food, all the way to the trades and fashion, businesses are being created around the talents and skills of ordinary South Africans. Across these areas, one thing is clear: Support is necessary, and support leads to economic empowerment.
One entity that is making its support for entrepreneurship known is the Rand West City Arts Council (RWCAC), which is championing the need to develop the creative economy. Through this, the Rand West City Fashion Festival was born.
“The Rand West City Fashion Festival was launched under the new administration’s mandate to revitalise the creative economy and empower local talent,” says Silas Theophilus Busang Nyembe, Chairperson of Rand West City Arts Council.
Following the election of the current council on 30 November 2024, there was a renewed focus on addressing post-pandemic economic challenges. The festival aims to reignite the fashion industry, foster collaboration between SMEs and established brands, and position Greenhills as a beacon of cultural innovation.
The RWCAC was reimagined under the new administration and officially launched on 29 March 2025. Its purpose is to drive inclusive economic growth through arts and culture, with a focus on youth empowerment and digital transformation. The council replaces outdated structures, prioritising agility, innovation, and partnerships with private-sector stakeholders to elevate SMEs and creatives.
Supporting SMEs in the Creative Economy
“The festival prioritises SME empowerment through several initiatives,” Nyembe shares. “These efforts align with the administration’s goal of creating 500 new jobs in the creative sector by 2026.”
The support that the fashion festival creates can be categorised into the following sections:
Exposure: Dedicated vendor stalls and runway slots for SMEs to display their products.
Networking: Matchmaking sessions with retailers, investors, and industry experts.
Training: Free workshops on digital marketing, sustainable practices, and financial management.
Sales Opportunities: Pop-up markets and online promotion via the festival’s digital platforms.
The Rand West City Fashion Festival
The festival will take place on the 27th and 28th of June, 2025 from 10:00 until late. It blends creativity in food, music and fashion to create a vibrant atmosphere that reflects the cultural experiences of the West Rand.
Greenhills Stadium in Greenhills was selected as the venue due to its modern infrastructure, scalability, and symbolic value. “The new administration prioritised this location to catalyse urban renewal in Greenhills, aligning with their pledge to transform underutilszed spaces into cultural and economic hubs,” he explains “Its central location and proximity to public transport also ensure maximum accessibility for attendees and participants.”
Tickets can be booked online.
Looking to the Future with Other Projects
Other than boosting the local economy and empowering SMEs, the Rand West City Fashion Festival contributes to raising funds for the new Media Hub.
“The Media Hub is a flagship project we have undertaken. It is designed to equip creatives and SMEs with cutting-edge digital tools that will offer content creation facilities, training programmes and collaborative spaces.”
These can further be defined as follows:
Content Creation: Access to equipment like cameras, editing software, and sound studios.
Training Programs: Workshops on AI-driven marketing, e-commerce, and sustainable design.
Collaborative Space: A co-working environment for freelancers and startups.
Nyembe continues to explain how the fashion show is helping the hub come to life. “ The funds raised will subsidise access for local talent, ensuring affordability of the facilities. The hub will also serve as a revenue-generating entity, reinvesting profits into community arts programs.”
Other long-term goals for the recently appointed council are built around four pillars that will position Rand West City as a model for arts-driven economic development in South Africa.
The four pillars are:
Annual Growth: Scaling the Fashion Festival into a pan-African event hosted at Greenhills Stadium.
Digital Integration: Expanding the Media Hub into a regional innovation centre for creative tech.
Youth Empowerment: Launching a “Creative Futures” program to train 1 000 young artists and entrepreneurs by 2027.
Sustainability: Ensuring 50% of festival operations are carbon-neutral by 2026.
SME South Africa is proud to partner with the Rand West City Arts Council as a media partner that helps drive awareness for their initiatives and ultimately empowers the creative SME community.
