More than 150 established and aspiring models auditioned on Saturday at the Etcetera Art Café and Studio in Windhoek for a spot on the runway of this year’s MTC Windhoek Fashion Week.

“A lot of new faces came through and we’re very excited for it,” event director Kalistu Mukoroli told VIBEZ!

He added that there still is an opportunity for virtual auditions until 26 June.

Mukoroli explained: “All they need to do is upload a video of themselves on their feed on any social media platform and tag us with the hashtags #MTCWFW2023 and #MTCWFWmodelcastings2023, then we will look at that as well”.

Models of all sizes are encouraged to enter. However, female models should be 1.7m in height and male models 1.75m tall. 

In the one-minute video, they should wear a tank top, leggings and heels, while the male models should wear a vest and shorts when they walk.

They then should also email their Z-cards to models@WHKFashionweek.com

Z-cards are a modelling version of business cards and like a portfolio, they show the model’s versatility and scope as a model. 

Meanwhile, Mukoroli said designers eager to showcase this year have until the end of this month to apply.

The model auditions and designer calls for entry are part of preparations for the fashion extravaganza scheduled for 1 to 4 November at the Maerua Mall in Windhoek.

The week’s activities include many activities - from a jewellery showcasing to normal runway showcasing as well as a master class that they will be hosting and other activities that will happen throughout the year.

“The arrangements are coming well and we’re quite very excited to be partnering up with our new partners to host the different activities throughout the year,” he added.

“The first day is usually the welcoming party, then we are going to have a jewellery showcasing. We are going to have two nights of runway as well as the master classes leading up to fashion week as well as boot camps for interns, models and designers.” 

It is the 8th edition and everyone involved is excited for it, added Mukoroli.

“I think the growth is there and we want to make sure that we push the ‘Sustainably Namibia’ brand, the ‘Made in Namibia’ brand to ensure that people support local.” 

Mukoroli emphasised that it is their main focus with the theme ‘Sustainably Namibia’ this year, to support and buy local.