Namibian-born Jan Malan, director of Umzingeli Productions, is one of Africa’s leading show producers. Umzingeli means “hunter-gatherer” in Xhosa and Zulu, as the company prides itself on finding and nurturing fashion and beauty talent that hails from Africa.
Since starting his show production career in 1985, his momentous work, energy and positivity towards the industry has led him to stage high profile productions in 22 countries spread over four continents. Using his powerful knowledge of the events industry, he brainstorms truly innovative concepts and executes them professionally with an enthusiasm that can only be described as electric.
Malan pioneered Africa Designs for M-Net and AngloGold, a pan- African fashion designer competition, in the year 2000. This was the first time that African designers showed on schedule at New York Fashion Week in a
group show. He also conceptualized the legendary M-Net Face of Africa Model Search. Malan has produced shows at various fashion weeks across the continent including South African, Cape Town, Durban, Joburg, Kinhasa, Fashion Business Angola and Africa Fashion Week; Mozambique Fashion Week and Swahili Fashion Week in Tanzania; and also directed all shows at Delhi Fashion Week in India for two consecutive seasons in 2008 and 2009. Malan has also directed the international finals of Ford Models’ Supermodel of the World for two years.
But regardless of an impressive client list, which includes names such as Elton John and Tyra Banks, Malan has continued his passion for charity work by giving his time to produce shows for the Witwatersrand Hospice, The Organ Donor Foundation, the South African Federation for Mental Health and most recently, United Colors of Fashion in New York. UCOF honored him with the “Producer of the Year Award” in 2012.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
- Miss World at Sun City, South Africa (1993,1994) Miss South Africa with Doreen Morris (1994 – 1997)
- M-Net’s African Showcase in Ghana (1996) M-Net Face of Africa since inception in 1997 to 2010
- Owned and produced the original Mr. South Africa Competition (1992 to 1997)
- Launch of the African Renaissance Blue Train in South Africa and Zimbabwe (1998)
- ‘Africa Designs’ M-Net and AngloGold for future fashion – First on schedule for Designers from Africa at New York Fashion Week (2000)
- Afridesia for AngloGold with Clive Rundle, Malcolm Klûk and Julian on schedule at New York Fashion Week (2002)
- 6 x Fashion Shows on Schedule at New York Fashion Week since 2000 (2000, 2002, 2009, 2010, 2012)
- Ford Supermodel of the World finals in 2001 and 2002 in Miami, USA and the Dominican Republic respectively
- ’True Love Magazine’s 30th Anniversary’ for Khanyi Dhlomo with Mr. Nelson Mandela in attendance (2002)
- The South African Fashion Awards (The Katherine’s) for Fairlady Magazine:
- Fashion as Art at the Johannesburg Art Gallery (2002)
- Fashion as Theatre at Windybrow Theatre in Johannesburg (2003)
- Fashion as Film at the Johannesburg City Hall (2005)
- Won a Loerie for best event the Loerie’s (South Africa’s Advertising Awards)
- The Brett Kebble Art Awards Gala Evening (2003/2004)
- South African Fashion Retrospective for the 30th Anniversary of the Nederburg Wine Auction (2004)
- Louis Vuitton launch in South Africa (2004)
- Cosmopolitan Magazine’s Jeans, Swimwear and Sexy Man Competition Events (2004 to 2010)
- The Elton John Charity Ball in Cape Town (2005)
- The “Models walk on water” fashion show for Tyra Banks’ America’s Next Top Model (2005)
- Staged 5 x Colour Trophy Awards for L’Oréal Professionnel Annually Serendipitea Charity Fashion Show for Hospice Witwatersrand (2005 to 2011)
- True Love South African Fashion Awards held at Park Station, Johannesburg (2007)
- BBC Africa Radio Awards in Nairobi, Kenya (2007)
- Wonderbra 101 Launch (2007) and Wonderbra Girl Announcement (2009)
- Positive Rocks at Sun City with Marc Bouwer, John Legend, Kelly Rowland and the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra (2007,2008) for Sun International
- True Love Magazine’s “All a woman Needs” Expo (2008/2009)
- Conceptualised the first Menswear Collection Shows for Men’s Health Magazine (2008)
- Mozambique Fashion Week (2007 – 2009)
- Swahili Fashion Week for Mustafa Hassanali (Since inception in 2008)
- Launch of Destiny Magazine for Khanyi Dhlomo (2007)
- Marianne Fassler/Marlene Dumas collaboration in the Standard Bank Art Gallery, Downtown Johannesburg (2008)
- Delhi Fashion Week in India for two seasons (2008, 2009)
- The Redken Symposium (2009)
- Arise Magazine African Collective Fall Winter 2009 ft. Xuly Bet, Stoned Cherrie and MOMO with Grace Jones on schedule at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week New York
- Arise Magazine Promise of Africa Spring Summer 2010 ft. David Tlale, Tiffany Amber, Jewel by Lisa and Eric Raisina
- Groundbreaking fashion installation show at Circa Gallery, Johannesburg for David Tlale (2010)
- Arise Magazine African Collective Part 3 Fall Winter 2010 ft. Black Coffee, Loin Cloth & Ashes and Deola Sagoe on schedule at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week New York
- Arise Magazine L’Afrique-A-Porter Autumn Winter 2010 on schedule Paris Fashion Week
- “Fashion Business Angola” for FIL (International Fairs of Luanda) Biggest Fashion Expo in Africa (2010 and 2011)
- Calvin Klein underwear re-launch in South Africa (2010)
- Elle Macpherson Intimates Launch in South Africa (2010)
- The Sound City Music Video Awards in Lagos, Nigeria (2010)
- Production Direction for Joburg Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2011 for African Fashion
- International highlighting the inner city regeneration of Johannesburg.
- The David Tlale Collection on Nelson Mandela Bridge, Johannesburg with 93 models commemorating each year of Mr Nelson Mandela (2011)
- First ever fashion show in Durban on the Pier (Fashion-by-the Sea) ft. Gavin Rajah, Craig Native, Klûk CGDT, Craig Jacobs and Dax Martin (2011)
- Colour in the Desert Fashion Week – Botswana (2011, 2012)
- The Volvo Fashion Finale with David Tlale, Stoned Cherrie and Gert-Johan Coetzee (2011)
- The Audi E-Tron Reveal at Johannesburg International Motor Show (2011)
- The K-Walk, Kreyann’ 10th Anniversary for Anna Ngann Yonn in Cameroon (2011)
- The David Tlale Climate Change Couture Collection at the South African Mint Company (2011)
- MAC Trends Presentation Spring/Summer (2012)
- Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Joburg Fall Winter 2012 ft. Loin Cloth & Ashes, David Tlale, Avant, Csquared, KZN Fashion Council and Fastrack.
- 5 x Mercedes-Benz Lifestyle Centre Fashion events countrywide (2012)
- Fashion show for Vogue Italia in Uganda ft. Santa Anzo & Xenson (2012)
- 2nd Annual Fashion-by-the-Sea in Durban on the Pier ft. Amanda Laird Cherry, Gavin Rajah, David Tlale and Craig Native (2012)
- Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Cape Town Spring Summer 2012/13 ft. Ruff Tung, Leigh Schubert, Michelle Ludek, David Tlale, Hip Hop & Viyella Heritage (2012)
- Inaugural African International Hair Extravaganza (2012)
- Women in Mining Fashion Show to pay tribute to Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma for African
- Fashion International (2012)
- Fashion Show at BMW Polo Series (India vs. SA) (2012)
- 2nd Annual Colour in the Desert Fashion Week – Botswana (2012)
- David Tlale Spring 2013 collection at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York (2012)
- United Colors of Fashion at the Museum of the City of New York (2012)
- Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Africa 2012 ft. Marianne Fassler, David Tale, Loin Cloth & Ashes, Jessica Sutherland, Khotatso Tsotetsi, Kreyann’, Mustafa Hassanali
- AMG Performance Tour for Mercedes-Benz countrywide (2012)
- Hugo Boss Spring/Summer 2013 in Cape Town (2012)
And the list continues to grow………
