Its a near three weeks until the end of term and everyone seems to be getting quite excited for the upcoming holidays. During the holidays I will be doing an internship with Jenni Button which I'm really looking forward to. By the end of the holidays we should be at least halfway through our collections, having done four complete outfits.
Jenni Button first started out with a career in advertising and graphic design where she studied in Port Elizabeth. She left this promising career in advertising to follow her dream. Fashion is a fickle business and no one knows it better than one of South Africa’s top designers. She was able to launch her signature minimalist clothing range in 1984. Within a few years, Jenni Button was established as one of South Africa’s leading fashion labels. In 1997 a business decision was made to sell 70% of Jenni Button (Pty) Ltd to The Platinum Group, however this left Button with a remaining 30% of shares that were promised to her. This company also sued her for using her name to market her new clothing label Philosophy by Jenni Button. She was barred from attaching her name to a clothing brand in South Africa again.
However since then Button has flourished in many areas of design. The Philosophy label has a loyal following in the United Kingdom, she has also registered Jenni Button Jewellery, Jenni Button Interiors and furnishings, Ready to wear, Bridal Couture and Architectural alterations. I’m excited to learn from such a well-known and talented designer during the course of the July holidays. I am interested to see her outlook on the fashion world and if she has any advice for me as a young, aspiring designer.
"I will always love fashion and the rag trade, but I want to move into other creative fields now," Jenni Button, Entrepreneur magazine.
