Established in 2014, Chivas Venture is a global platform created to support entrepreneurs who are solving the world’s biggest social and environmental issues. The initiative is returning to South Africa and has collaborated with streetwear personality and Grade Africa founder, Zaid Osman.
Osman started Grade Africa with the hope of bringing African talent to the table and showcasing African pride in the fashion industry. “I only want to be a part of meaningful things and when the Chivas Venture team reached out to me, it was a no-brainer as this is exactly what we as Grade Africa stand for – to empower and upskill local creatives,” said Osman.
The new platform will see scotch whisky brand Chivas and Osman provide up-and-coming fashion designers with the tools and support needed to produce a nine-piece capsule collection that will be sold via ‘drops’ with exclusive retail partners.
The production of the collection will provide local African communities with employment opportunities, empowering newly-appointed apprentices to join forces with Chivas and Grade Africa. Collectively they will blend their skills and talents, enabling them to source and manufacture the collection sustainably.
Proceeds from the sales of the collection will be given to the apprentices and donated to the Grade Africa Foundation, whose mission is to eliminate extreme poverty and bring unique opportunities back home to Africa.
“We are thrilled to be back for the seventh year of the Chivas Venture, with an updated programme that will see us championing and supporting grassroots action in local communities around the world. The new format continues to reflect the Chivas DNA by supporting and championing new-wave entrepreneurs, who work tirelessly to elevate themselves and the communities that surround them,” said Nick Blacknell, Global Marketing Director at Chivas.
To date, the global Chivas Venture initiative has given away $6m in funding to 142 social entrepreneurs, who have positively impacted over 3.3 million lives, in more than 65 countries. This includes providing 34 million litres of safe drinking water to communities, recycling 1,300 tonnes of waste, helping over 2,500 farmers’ families out of poverty and funding over 75,000 days of education for women and girls.
