DAF Faculty
At the core of the DAF is our passionate academic team, driving our
mission of high-quality education with individual attention.
Bianca Fobian
managing director / head of institution
Passionate about the culture of life-long learning, Bianca Fobian has been at the helm of Design Academy of Fashion since 2006 as Managing Director.
She is a firm believer of self-actualized, future-focused students and, to this end, has created a curriculum and an environment that is conducive to self-development, holistic growth and fostering creativity.
Liandra van Staden
Academic Head
Leandi Mulder
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT
Leandi Mulder is a fashion designer and educator who holds a Master of Fashion Design and Innovation from the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology. Leandi has a strong background in fashion and textile design. Her design approach emphasizes sustainability, ethics, and empowerment through fashion.
Leandi shares her local and international experience and knowledge with the students of the Design Academy of Fashion, and is instrumental in the Mohair SA x DAF collaboration since 2024.
Hannelore Olivier
Quality assurance and compliance
René Morrison
Garment Technology lecturer
Rene’s mastery in the technical art of garment construction and patternmaking comes from her extensive experience working in the studios of three of South Africa’s top fashion designers.
After starting her teaching career at DAF in 2007, she received her BTech degree in 2011.
Rene’s teaching style is characterised by her patient and thorough approach, particularly when it comes to the often challenging technical and practical subjects.
Logan Daniels
PatternMaking & digital design
Logan is a Fashion Designer, Lecturer, and Master’s Researcher specialising in fashion education reform and design development. With over a decade of combined academic and industry experience, he brings extensive expertise across the full fashion and clothing production process.
Logan is passionate about bridging the gap between academia and industry, equipping students with the creative, technical, and professional skills required for success in the evolving fashion landscape.
Francesca Saunders
Fashion Retail & Business lecturer
Francesca is a fashion industry professional with over 20 years of international experience across buying, product management, design operations, sourcing, merchandising, and e-commerce. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Textiles from the University of Huddersfield and a postgraduate qualification in Sustainable Fashion Management from SUMAS.
Passionate about the future of fashion, Francesca brings her knowledge to the Design Academy of Fashion, helping students understand the commercial and strategic realities of building successful fashion businesses.
Mareth Roos-Haupt
illustration & colour theory lecturer
Mareth Roos-Haupt is a fashion lecturer with experience in fashion retail, production, buying, and sourcing. After returning to Cape Town, she founded a fashion label in 2014, focusing on design and production management.
Mareth holds an Advanced Diploma in Fashion Design and recently completed her MA Open in Arts and Humanities from the Open University, UK. She is passionate about mentoring students, combining practical industry insights with academic knowledge.
Amanda Trom
Fashion Design & digital design
Amanda is a DAF graduate, fashion designer, and emerging educator. Her final-year collection earned her the prestigious Design Excellence Award.
While completing her third year, Amanda conceptualised and launched her fashion brand, VINTU. The campaign film created won Best New Brand at the Milano Fashion Film Festival. Her work has also been showcased at South African Fashion Week (SAFW).
Amanda has developed a strong passion for education and mentorship. She is committed to nurturing the next generation of designers while furthering her own academic journey through continued studies.
Support Team
Amanda Bomvu
REGISTRAR
Gillian Mancock
FRONT DESK & SHORT COURSES
Suzanne Aldridge
FINANCE MANAGER
Rene Gonera
head of wellness
Directors
Design Academy is led by a duo with a shared vision of transforming and developing Africa’s creative capital.
Bianca Fobian
managing director
Passionate about the culture of life-long learning, Bianca Fobian has been at the helm of Design Academy of Fashion since 2006 as Managing Director.
She is a firm believer of self-actualized, future-focused students and, to this end, has created a curriculum and an environment that is conducive to self-development, holistic growth and fostering creativity.
Luke Fobian
operations director
With 18 years of experience heading up Trend Forecasting and Fashion Design for major South African fashion retailers, Luke is most excited about building an innovative education platform that contributes to the future of African design.
With a desire to build a world-class platform for the next generation of talent, he is set on bridging the gap between students and the workforce
GET IN TOUCH WITH US
available from 9:00 – 16:30
Monday – Friday
Address The Old Biscuit Mill, 375 Albert Road, Woodstock, Cape Town, 7925
Email info@daf-academy.co.za