Second year Fashion and Textiles students have once again made the Durban University of Technology (DUT) proud by clinching nine out of the ten finalist positions at the second round of judging at the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award, presented by Durban Fashion Fair.
Judges Terrence Bray, Kathrin Kidger, Sindi Shangase, Zama Mathe and Derrick Mhlongo deliberated for some time before settling on the top ten, and concluded that the overall quality of the entries made the for a long deliberation over the top 10.
“What was notable was that the standard of entries was consistently high, which makes it tougher for the judges,”’ said Bray.
“In line with where fashion is going, the designs were very individual and very well considered and thoughtful,” he added. “The judges tended to favour ideas and designs that we have never seen before. That’s the nature of the competition.”
Fashion and Textiles lecturer Simphiwe Xulu said: “The Vodacom Durban July competition provides our students with such wonderful exposure and opportunity to meet a variety of young designers from all over KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). We (DUT) have an incredible team of lecturers who are committed to helping our students reach their full design potential. We (DUT) do hope that one of our students will get the first prize, and having nine finalists out of 10 guarantees us at least two positions in the top three if not all as we did in 2017,” she said excitedly.
The ten finalists go through to the two evenings of high fashion at the Vodacom Durban July Fashion Showcase at Greyville Racecourse on Thursday and Friday evenings, where another panel of expert judges will study the top ten student designers’ work and decide on the top three, which will only be revealed on the day of the Vodacom Durban July, Saturday, 7 July 2018.
Each of the Top Ten Finalists received R2000 from Gold Circle. The winner will receive a “fashion” travel package to Johannesburg to experience SA Fashion Week Autumn Winter 19 taking place in Johannesburg 23 to 27 October 2018, courtesy of Gold Circle and SA Fashion Week. The winner will also receive a two-night stay for 2 in a Seaview Suite at Fairmont Zimbali Resort valued at R20 000 from Zimbali, R5000 from Schweppes, Samsung Galaxy Note 8 valued at R17 000 from Samsung and Vodacom, a R5000 Gift Card courtesy of Gateway Theatre of Shopping, Mangwanani Moonlight Night Spa voucher to the value of R1000, a R2500 Gift Card courtesy of Forever New and a Clarins hamper for the face and body valued at over R1300.
Second prize is R3000 and third prize is R2000 from Gold Circle. The nine finalists from DUT are Chané Lange, Talent Mkhwanazi, Nhlosenhle Cele, Malcolm Mokgope, Andile Nsele, Minenhle Memela, Mhlengi Mngoma, Georgina Brink, Glacious Lubisi.
Tickets are still available for the two Vodacom Durban July Fashion Showcase shows on Thursday and Friday, online bookings are through the event website. More information can be found at www.vodacomdurbanjuly.co.za
Pictured: Celebrating making the top ten at the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award are student designers and their models (back, from left) Nhlosenhle Cele and model Verushka Pillay, Georgina Brink and model Nandi Zulu, Nosipho Ntuli and model Enio Laedun, Chané Lange and model Lerato Shemi, Talent Mkhwanazi and model Zama Gumede, Glacious Lubisi and model Tannath Hoggarth, Malcolm Mokgope and model Wandile, (front from left) Mhlengi Mngoma and model Mondli Shezi, Minenhle Memela and model Nic van Heerden, Andile Nsele and model Themba. (Pierre Retief/Gameplan Media)
Waheeda Peters/Gameplan Media
