Help us Build - The TAAF Artisanal Skills Campus

We are the founders of The African Academy of Fashion (TAAF), a tuition-free training academy based in Cape Town that has trained over 1000 women in artisanal and technical skills, from garment construction and embroidery to leatherwork and beadwork. Many of our graduates have gone on to earn incomes, support their families, and enter global markets.

But we have always known that the work is not finished.

I was born in Zimbabwe and raised in South Africa and I realize that in rural communities in my home country artisanal talent exists everywhere, but opportunity does not.

That is why we have taken the first step: We purchased a piece of land in rural Zimbabwe.

Now, we are building something much bigger than a school.

We are building a campus for skills, dignity, and industry.

This campus will train women, youth, and boys in the following fields:

• Beadwork and embroidery
• Carpentry and woodworking
• Weaving, Knitting and Basketry 
• Garment construction
• Leatherwork and small goods manufacturing

These are not...