House of Poulton launches masterclass for Namibia’s next fashion stars

Fashion powerhouse House of Poulton has officially launched its highly anticipated incubator masterclass, an initiative designed to equip aspiring fashion designers with the creative, business and production skills needed to thrive in the industry.

Applications opened this week and will close on 11 July, with only 10 participants set to earn a place in the intensive programme. The selected designers will embark on a journey of mentorship, practical challenges and industry-led workshops aimed at refining their craft while building sustainable fashion businesses.

The top 10 finalists will be announced on 13 July before beginning a series of masterclasses covering everything from fashion identity, design development and production planning to branding, social media strategy and content creation. Participants will also be challenged to develop concepts, produce garments, build business profiles and pitch their brands to a judging panel comprising respected industry stakeholders.

Speaking at the launch in Windhoek on Tuesday, Miss Namibia 2025 and masterclass patron Johanna Swaartbooi applauded the initiative, saying Namibia’s creative sector is rich in talent but often lacks the business foundation needed for long-term success. “We are creative, but we lack the business element,” she said, encouraging young designers to seize the opportunity to learn from industry leaders and turn their ambitions into reality.

House of Poulton founder Melisa Poulton described the programme as a platform to bridge gaps within Namibia’s fashion industry, create meaningful mentorship opportunities and build a community where creatives can learn, collaborate and grow together.

Viable industry - The initiative is delivered in partnership with Creative Sport Tourism (CST), a collaboration aimed at celebrating Namibian talent while creating a more sustainable and economically viable creative industry.

As the competition intensifies, participants will face real-world production challenges, culminating in the selection of four finalists. These designers will showcase their collections at the CST Expo at Hage Geingob Stadium in September, where they will compete in a live production challenge before presenting their final runway collections to judges and the public. The incubator is also supported by media partner tjil TV, which will give audiences an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the mentorship journey, creative process and competition milestones.

The competition winner is set to walk away with a number of prizes, including a six-month rental agreement for a business workspace, an industrial sewing machine, and a voucher to purchase fabric. Candidates should be between the ages of 18 and 45 and can include emerging and established fashion designers. Applications are available at the host centre, Creative Industry Institute of Africa, in Windhoek and on the House of Poulton and House of Poulton Incubator Masterclass Instagram pages or can be requested at houseofpoultonincubator@gmail.com.