Your Future in Fashion Starts at DAF!

The Design Academy of Fashion (DAF) curriculum is designed to unleash your full potential as a unique creative.

2022 APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN

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The Design Academy of Fashion

Approach to Education

We drive a focus on the heart and mind of the designer. Our curriculum is built around a process of delving into “who am I”, “who are you”, and “who are we”. As we engage with ourselves and the world around us. We are able to design with relevance and empathy.

In order to contribute to the world, we need to understand ourselves first

We encourage a culture of higher-goals and ideals across all areas of life. Through creating an environment of growth with innovative forms of learning that engage in open and respectful engagements.

Our Mission

To provide quality education and training, conducive to the optimal development of each student by ensuring individual attention and commitment to learners, in order to maximise their unique potential and equip them to enter the fashion industry in any fashion field with confidence, expert knowledge and skills.

Engage the World through Design

Our Vision

The leading creative participant in private fashion education dedicated to transforming and developing South Africa’s creative capital.

Developing Africa's Creative Capital

Quick DAF Facts

The only fashion school in Africa on the CEO World magazines "Top 100 fashion schools in the world".

One of 11 schools around the world on the GUCCI Fellowship Design Program!

Frankfurt Style Awards 2019 student, Jenna Standish won the Outstanding Talents Award.

Two 2019 graduates were finalists in the Design Indaba Emerging Creatives Class of 2020. A class of creatives across all disciplines of design.

85% of 2019 graduates are employed. 6% are continuing their studies.

100% of graduates would recommend DAF to a friend.

Why DAF?

We focus on the heart & mind of the designer, offering a holistic approach to education.

A commitment to learners to offer individual attention & support.

A curriculum that has been built for you to explore your unique creative expression.

Encouraging higher goals and ideals across all areas of life.

High teaching contact time with a low student to lecturer ratio.

DAF leverages strong relationships with large retailers, designers and suppliers within the clothing sector.

The Student Experience

"Being at DAF proved to me that I have the ability to be successful. Coming from a humble upbringing, to being short-listed to the Gucci Fellowship Award, travelling to Italy and interviewing at one of the biggest brands in the world, was an incredible experience."

Babalwa Dopi

2019 graduate

"I had moved from Law to Fashion and was quite nervous about the dramatic move, but studying at DAF was inspiring and really assisted me in having the confidence to open my own label. The small classes and focused teaching really helped to develop my unique perspective and to give me a taste of the various aspects of the industry"

Hannah Lavery

2011 graduate

DAF has a very personal approach and really cares for each student. The lecturers create a positive space where you are encouraged to be creative. I loved my time at DAF and still speak to the friends I made there many years ago. Since then I have worked on sneaker collaborations with Adidas and Fila, worked on Savile Row in London and currently senior designer for menswear accessories at John Lewis in London. I would highly recommend DAF for anyone thinking about studying fashion"

Daniel Bradley

2012 graduate

"Each year at DAF was a moment of growth for me, in my way of designing and how I approach new projects. DAF has been a very important part of my life and my career. The creative freedom given to us as designers helped me grow and realise what I wanted to do in my career and where I wanted to take my designing ability. I recommend DAF to any young fashion designer that has a passion to develop their design capability. DAF will help you find your creative space and give you the freedom to be who you are as a person and as a designer. Soon I leave for Rome to be an assistant designer at Gucci."

Robyn Clark

2019 graduate

DAF News

Other

You’re Joining DAF! Here’s some advice from our students.

You’re Joining DAF! Here’s some advice from our students. Moving from school into tertiary education can be an exciting, but stressful transition. We asked our

Sep 20, 2021

2020 Graduates Design Academy of Fashion

Events

Graduate Exhibition 2020

DAF GRADUATE EXHIBITION 2020 In a year of global change, the DAF class of 2020 chose to innovate and re-imagine our graduate exhibition. With the

Dec 9, 2020

Courses & Workshops

Fashion Portfolio Workshop

On Saturday the 12th September we held our free fashion portfolio workshop for prospective students.

Sep 15, 2020

Head Office and the only campus for full-time and short course programs.

The Old Biscuit Mill, 375 Albert Road, Woodstock, Cape Town, 7925

Your Future in Fashion Starts at DAF!