Young Designers Emporium - SA's Local Talent Showcase

Most of us have ventured into a YDE store to view fashion trends

My two favourite branches are at the Nelson Mandela Square and Melrose Arch.  Over the years I have made a few purchases and enjoyed browsing through the fashion racks.  For any of you who are interested in local talent this is a must stop shop.  The good news is that they currently have a ‘Naked Sale’ with a 50% discount.  Now that’s a bargain.

YDE is renowned for their window campaigns. The YDE window campaigns always put across what could be a boring retail message in an irreverent, surprising manner, that’s sure to turn heads in the mall environment.  View the link to see their latest window campaign: 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/click-ka-ching/sets/72157630639480872/show/

YDE was founded in 1995 by Paul Simon. The first YDE store was opened in September 1995 in Cape Town & thereafter a further 12 stores were opened nationally. Paul Simon sold a majority shareholding to Truworths in 2003 and in 2005 sold his remaining shareholding to Truworths, who now own 100% of YDE.

Nineteen stores are located in prime retail shopping centers across South Africa. YDE stores can be found in Cavendish Square, Centurion, Century City, Cresta, Eastgate, Gateway, Greenacres, Hemingways, Loch Logan, Melrose Arch, Menlyn, Midlands Mall, Pavilion, Rosebank, Sandton, Somerset Mall, The Glen, Tygervalley and the V&A Waterfront. 

The very concept of YDE was first thought of as a means to showcase the local talent of South Africa’s clothing and accessory designers. YDE created a store for young, trendy customers of both sexes and was able to offer cutting edge, sexy, chic, expressive, edgy, underground and original clothing & accessories to customers who followed both local and international trends, but were individualists who did not conform to set or pre-defined standards. YDE first opened its store with only 10 designers and to-date YDE houses in excess of 90 local fashion designers who supply YDE outlets nationwide.

How does a young designer go about getting a rail at YDE?

Should you wish to join YDE, you would need to contact Karin at the YDE head office, complete an application form and submit 7/8 photographs of designs that the designer feels would be suitable for YDE. YDE takes designers merchandise on consignment and the designers can set their own market-related prices. The designers receive a monthly payment for their sales less a monthly display fee and sales commission payable to YDE. YDE offers the designers access to systems which allow them to view sales & stock information on a daily basis. Tel: 021 460 2805 or email designers@yde.co.za.

How many designers are currently signed up at YDE?

In excess of 80 designers (this includes clothing, footwear, accessory, jewellery and home ware designers).

Nelson Mandela Square
Shop # UF 10
Sandton Square Shopping Mall
5th Road, Sandown
Tel: 011 883 8812