STADIO to host the first ever Comic Con Africa Sew-A-Thon in Randburg
STADIO School of Fashion (formerly Lisof) is excited to host the first-ever Comic Con Africa Sew-A-Thon competition on Saturday, 11 June 2022 at the Randburg campus in Johannesburg.
Leading up to International Sewing Day on 13 June, this event promises fun and nail-biting rivalry. This one-of-a-kind new challenge will put the creative and technical know-how of local sewists, fashion designers, and costume makers of all levels to the test as they race to finish up their partly-prepared superhero costume pieces in just eight hours.
To stand a winning chance contestants must use at least 90% of the materials provided to them, which are in the Comic Con colours of black, blue, red, yellow and orange. Five esteemed judges from the fashion industry will score each contestant, including STADIO’s Patrick Brill and Terese Potgieter.
Everyone is welcome to attend the Sew-a-Thon event or watch the live broadcast on YouTube.
As a senior lecturer at STADIO School of Fashion and chief developer of the school’s Pattern Design and Garment Construction programme, Brill will be grading contestants against three key criteria. “Cosplay is a cornerstone of Comic Con Africa so I will be looking for a cohesive and innovative approach that clearly characterises this persona. I also want to see how contestants interpret the technical complexity of their garment to ensure all aspects are accurately represented,” he says.
For Potgieter, a fashion designer and STADIO School of Fashion’s discipline leader for design, carefully selecting elements that work well together is key. “When I look at a design, the main thing I always ask is if all the elements in the garment, including the texture, colour, shape, and design details relate to each other, and no one element seems un-considered,” she explains.
Comic Con Africa is the largest multi-genre pop-culture and gaming festival on the continent, and this year takes place from 22-25 September 2022 at the Johannesburg Expo Centre.
For more information about the Sew-a-Thon competition and details about the event, click here.