From
Student
to Studio

A curated launchpad introducing ten emerging creatives through individual stories, portfolios and direct social connections.

Enter the launchpad

Sculptural black Nizenande fashion design with red thread detailing

Now launching01 / 10

Sustainable fashion

Nizenande

by Thembeka Ngubane

The idea

Talent deserves
a place to land.

From Student to Studio gives each creative a focused digital page: who they are, what they make and where to find them. Together, the ten pages become one discoverable creative cohort.

08Profiles live

10Creative cohort

01Founder platform

The founder Noxolo Sitshinga, From Student to Studio 2026

Director & Founder · Purple Pot Designs

Noxolo
Sitshinga
built the
doorway.

From Student to Studio sits inside Rebirth: a platform Noxolo Sitshinga of Purple Pot Designs created so ten women-led creative businesses can showcase, meet buyers, and take a fuller place in the creative economy.

Noxolo is Director and Founder of Purple Pot Designs. Rebirth, as she frames it, celebrates sustainable creativity, craftsmanship and entrepreneurship — then opens market-access for the cohort, not only a weekend of display.

The exhibition runs 9–10 October 2026 at KZNSA Gallery, Durban. The ten women get a room to show their products, engage customers, and build networks. A round-table at the same gallery on 2 October sits ahead of that weekend. This launchpad is the digital doorway into the room.