Fashion designer Anisa Mpungwe is proud to be part of the MRP Foundation Ambassador & Mentorship Programme, teaching budding designers from the JumpStart Manufacturing programme.
“If you’re thinking outside of the box, you’re probably not. You need to think outside of the outside box.”
These are just some of the inspiring words from MRP Foundation Ambassador and Mentor Anisa Mpungwe, an award-winning designer who jumped at the opportunity to mentor a group of young design and manufacturing students while raising awareness for the MRP Foundation and its programmes.
Anisa, along with Henry Holland, is proud to be part of the recently launched MRP Foundation Ambassador & Mentorship Programme. As a leading fashion personality, Anisa now has the chance to share her vast knowledge and experience with recently graduated young South Africans who are enrolled in the MRP Foundation’s highly successful JumpStart Manufacturing Programme.
The programme directly addresses South Africa’s youth unemployment challenge by further developing graduates with industry-specific required skills and facilitating placement at local MRP suppliers.
The Loin Cloth and Ashes creator has collaborated with MRP for several successful in-store ranges and her insider industry experience will prove invaluable for the 2015 class of pre-production students.
Anisa brought a distinctively African flavour to her week of lectures, captivating the twenty-one students with her creative and practical advice on clothing and footwear range development.
“I love being a MRP Foundation Ambassador and Mentor and sharing what I’ve learnt during my fashion journey,” said the stylish designer.
“Building up a solid base of knowledge and knowing how to be practical with it is so vital in today’s world. I really hope the students leave feeling challenged and thinking above and beyond themselves,” added the talented role model.
For Nomo Zangwa, a twenty-three-year-old pre-production student, the week of Anis’a lectures has completely opened her eyes to the big wide world of fashion.
“She really challenged and inspired us to view fashion through a more creative lens. Clothes are not just clothes, they represent your personality!”
Natasja Ambrosio, Sustainability Manager for the Mr Price Group and Director for the MRP Foundation, realises the immense value that Anisa brings to both the JumpStart Manufacturing Programme and the students themselves.
“Anisa brings significant innovative thinking as well as her own success and experience into the training room. Her passion for fashion and developing young South African talent makes her a perfect Ambassador for the program. We are very grateful for the contribution she is making to the lives and future careers of the MRP Foundation students,” said Natasja.
Anisa’s professional edge and inspiring words challenged the budding fashion students to transform mindsets, push their own creative limits and dream much much bigger!