CONVERSE CONTINUES TO SUPPORT YOUNG TALENT IN CREATING THEIR NEXT

by hypress Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Global footwear company brand Converse has recently awarded Thato Chosa Ché Bernardo (21) and Ginelio Da Silva (22) as the recipients of the 2022 All Star Projects Program.

Through this program the young emerging creatives received tools in assisting to create their next by executing two concepts of their desired disciplines in Cape Town and Pretoria.

Converse is passionate about supporting young emerging creatives and have created a global accelerator program that invests in directly supporting the All-Star communities who are passionate about growing their creative disciplines in music, art, sustainability, fashion and sport, and constantly breaking boundaries through their next .

After the global announcement last year, Converse South Africa received applications from these young emerging creatives in Mzansi and after meticulous rounds of deliberating, ultimately selected Thato Chosa Ché Bernardo (21) and Ginelio Da Silva (22) as the appointed creatives to showcase the brands narrative.

The winning concept by Thato Chosa Ché Bernardo aims to celebrate creatives and creates a self-sustainingmicro industry that will enable young emerging creatives to grow through themed events titled ‘Growth’, ‘Rebirth’ and ‘Transformation’ that he executes with the creative collective CRATES. This multi-disciplinary creative is motivated to build a space where other creatives can also grow.

“I believe in the growth and exposure of the creative community rather than just individual success, especially in South Africa. South African Creatives need to band together to improve the standards of the industry and reframe how they are perceived and represented. I call myself ‘The Creator of Worlds’ in the hopes that I can move the boundaries of the industry in South Africa and create the space for emerging creatives to thrive;” says All Star Project Program recipient, Thato Chosa Ché Bernardo.

Now in the last phase, after curating a 3-day workshop that equipped three local creatives in art, music, and fashion with the knowledge of executing their installations, we are gearing up to experience the execution of all these elements coming to life.

The event will take place at the Botanik Social House in Cape Town on the 30^th of July 2023. Tickets to the event can be purchased here.

On the 19^th of August, Ginelio De Silva is taking a bold move through music and fashion through a festival titled COTERIE set to take place in Pretoria at the African Beer Emporium. “The project addresses the need for connectedness and bringing people from different backgrounds together, it also addresses the need for opportunities and exposure for new artists and creatives in their fields;”says recipient Ginelio De Silva.

This festival is set to have various artists across various genres and backgrounds with the hopes of bringing different audiences together who have a shared love for music in one space. This platform will also give an opportunity for young and upcoming artists in music and fashion to showcase their clothes on these festival stages.

“After five years I hope the project will have impacted multiple artists and designers careers helping them grow, furthermore, I hope the project will inspire other promoters and event organizers to give opportunities to new artists who deserve to be given a break;” he adds.

Converse All Stars are constantly on the move, constantly creating. The all-star program is creating the space and providing the opportunity for creatives to push their limits, further. Creatives in south Africa are creating next. Are you?