Ilsé Vincent (32), a young event floral designer who grew up in the Northern Cape, took a bold leap by pivoting her career into fashion after joining Pick n Pay Clothing’s Futurewear programme.

This month, Vincent will unveil her first limited-edition fashion collection, The Language of Flowers, in 40 Pick n Pay Clothing stores nationwide, marking a significant milestone in her creative journey.

Known for her passion for flowers and vibrant creativity, Vincent has always found beauty in the simplicity of her surroundings. Growing up in a small town, she styled dolls in clothes and with off-cut fabrics to make something beautiful.

Her career began in floral design nine years ago when she founded her first business, Blomstories,  which she operates from Wellington in Cape Town, offering floral arrangements for weddings and events.

“I fell in love with my parents' garden at a very young age. Looking back at my childhood albums, I always wrote, “I want to be a florist”,” shares Vincent, recounting her early love for flowers. "Every flower has a story to tell, and that's what I aimed to do with my flower arrangements," she explains.

This ability to craft meaningful narratives through creativity eventually led her to fashion, where her passion for prints and inclusive designs began to bloom. Inspired by her own challenges in finding stylish, flattering clothing, she began experimenting with creating prints and designs and taught herself to digitally design her “wild and colourful concepts”.

Despite having no formal background in fashion design, Vincent entered Pick n Pay Clothing’s mentorship programme, Futurewear. "I couldn't sew a button, but I knew what could look cool," Vincent admits. Her talent and bold vision caught the attention of the selection panel, and her dream of becoming a fashion designer was set in motion.

The Pick n Pay Clothing Futurewear programme, in partnership with Gavin Rajah, provided Vincent with the mentorship and resources needed to bring her designs to life. "It was an incredible experience. The support from the team helped me grow confident in my ideas, even when I doubted my place in the fashion world," she reflects.

Her new collection, which features vibrant prints, versatile styles, and sizes ranging from 6 to 20, is a testament to her commitment to inclusivity and self-expression through fashion.

Whatsapp