Gavin Rajah

Rajah initially studied law at the University of Cape Town beginning in 1989. While at university he sold reject clothing from the United States clothing label his father represented. Anti-apartheid sanctions saw an end to the American label selling in South Africa and Rajah then befriended a local seamstress whose clothes he began selling.

Rajah gave up law to focus on fashion. The release of Nelson Mandela from prison on February 11, 1991 and the unbanning of political organizations led to rapid relaxations on business ownership for black South Africans. Rajah assisted Mandela with fundraising events for the opening of the Mandela Children’s Fund offices in the United Kingdom and United States of America, as well as sites in South Africa.{{Cite web |title=Mzantsi* |url=https://www.designindaba.com/articles/creative-work/mzantsi |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=Design Indaba |language=en}}{{failed verification|date=September 2022}}

Rajah founded Cape Town Fashion Week in 2000{{Cite web |date=2019-04-06 |title=Gavin Rajah Celebrates 20 Years - Haute Fashion Africa (HFA) |url=https://hautefashionafrica.com/gavin-rajah-celebrates-20-years/ |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=Haute Fashion Africa |language=en-US}} and became the first African brand to be invited by the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture in France to show at Paris Fashion Week (Couture) in 2006. He partners with the Motsepe Family Foundation{{Cite web |title=Motsepe-Moloi bags attention at fashion week |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/motsepe-moloi-bags-attention-at-fashion-week-20150429 |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=News24 |language=en-US}} to promote the development of young black fashion designers and entrepreneurs in South Africa and other African nations. He also works with major South African retailer, Pick ’n Pay on a mentorship program for young black designers.{{Cite web |title=Emerging designers called to enter PnP Clothing mentorship project |url=https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/462/207874.html |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=Bizcommunity |language=en}} He worked with South Africa’s Special Envoy for Gender, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi{{Cite web |last=Nations |first=United |date=2016 |title=3RD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT: TAKING STOCK OF SIDE EVENTS AND VOLUNTARY COMMITMENTS AND INITIATIVES |url=https://www.medicalandresearch.com/assets/articles/documents/DOCUMENT_20191219000132.pdf |access-date=2 September 2022 |website=United Nations}} to develop a skill transfer and micro-enterprise network in the clothing and textile sector in Africa. He has shown collections in New York, Paris, Germany, the United Kingdom and India.

In recent years he has extended design to homewear often drawing on the skills of famous African artists,{{Cite web |title=Artist Zanele Muholi and fashion designer Gavin Rajah collaborate to create an exclusive homeware collection – Buzz Life News |url=https://www.buzzlifenews.com/2022/07/08/artists-zanele-muholi-and-fashion-designer-collaborate-to-create-an-exclusive-homeware-collection/ |access-date=2022-09-04 |language=en-US}} including his collaboration with Zanele Muholi.{{Cite web |last=Mazibuko |first=Thobile |title=Gavin Rajah collaborates with Zanele Muholi on a new homewear collection |url=https://www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/style-beauty/fashion/gavin-rajah-collaborates-with-zanele-muholi-on-a-new-homewear-collection-c9bb5238-9aab-444a-ba7c-266ae9369c7d |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=www.iol.co.za |language=en}}

A board member of the Harvard University Center for Africa{{Cite web |title=Gavin Rajah |url=https://africa.harvard.edu/people/gavin-rajah |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=africa.harvard.edu |language=en}} since August 2016, he helped the Center launch an African office in Johannesburg, South Africa. He has worked with the Center in organizing and fundraising for four conferences on: Africa’s Leaders Speak{{Cite web |title=Africa's Leaders Speak Forum |url=https://africa.harvard.edu/event/africas-leaders-speak-forum |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=africa.harvard.edu |language=en}} (2018; Africa-Asia Partnerships in Health and Healthcare Delivery for Women and Youth{{Cite web |title=Africa-Asia Partnerships in Health and Healthcare Delivery for Women and Youth |url=https://africa.harvard.edu/event/africa-asia-partnerships-health-and-healthcare-delivery-women-and-youth |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=africa.harvard.edu |language=en}} (2019; Women and the Changing Face of Entrepreneurship in Africa{{Cite web |title=Women and the Changing Face of Entrepreneurship in Africa |url=https://africa.harvard.edu/women-and-changing-face-entrepreneurship-africa |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=africa.harvard.edu |language=en}} (2020); and Future of Curatorial Practice in Africa{{Cite web |title=Workshop: Future of Africa-Based Curatorial Practice |url=https://hutchinscenter.fas.harvard.edu/event/workshop-future-africa-based-curatorial-practice |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=hutchinscenter.fas.harvard.edu |language=en}} (2022). He is a director of the African Womxn Award in association with the Harvard Center for Africa and is an advisory member on Harvard Art’s Initiative.

Rajah has been an active United Nations{{Cite web |title=UNICEF South Africa Ambassador Gavin Rajah visits Safe Park |url=https://www.unicef.org/southafrica/stories/unicef-south-africa-ambassador-gavin-rajah-visits-safe-park |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=www.unicef.org |language=en}} Children’s Fund Goodwill Ambassador{{Cite web |title=UNICEF and Gavin Rajah partner at Fashion Week 2020 to end violence against children |url=https://www.unicef.org/southafrica/press-releases/unicef-and-gavin-rajah-partner-fashion-week-2020-end-violence-against-children |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=www.unicef.org |language=en}} since 2017.{{Cite web |date=2007-08-13 |title=Basketball star, fashion designer named new UNICEF goodwill ambassadors |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2007/08/228092-basketball-star-fashion-designer-named-new-unicef-goodwill-ambassadors |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=UN News |language=en}} In 2018, he founded The White Light Movement,{{Cite web |author=Staff Reporter |title=Gavin Rajah opens New NPO -The White Light Movement |url=https://www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/style-beauty/fashion/gavin-rajah-opens-new-npo-the-white-light-movement-17865882 |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=www.iol.co.za |language=en}} a non-profit organization{{Cite web |title=Gavin Rajah launches NPO to upskill vulnerable women |url=https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/348/184154.html |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=Bizcommunity |language=en}} in South Africa that helps women and girls harmed by domestic violence and/or sexual abuse.{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Lifestyle |title=Gavin Rajah's White Light Movement makes face masks to help support vulnerable individuals |url=https://www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/style-beauty/fashion/gavin-rajahs-white-light-movement-makes-face-masks-to-help-support-vulnerable-individuals-47338682 |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=www.iol.co.za |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Gavin Rajah's Prêt à Vivre collection supports local talent |url=https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/462/170141.html |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=Bizcommunity |language=en}}

He works out of his atelier at 100 Shortmarket St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town.

{{Reflist}}

• http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/gavin-rajah-5768
• {{Cite web|url=http://www.tvsa.co.za/actorprofile.asp?actorID=7458|title=Gavin Rajah | TVSA}}
• http://www.gavinrajah.com/

• http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/spring-summer-2009/ready-to-wear/gavin-rajah {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818175529/http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/spring-summer-2009/ready-to-wear/gavin-rajah |date=18 August 2016 }}

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Category:Living people

Category:South African fashion designers

Category:1970 births