The boldly reshaped Vodacom Durban July fashion programme will feature a brand new event that will showcase the work of eight Durban-based designers who have a strong relationship to event and the Durban Fashion Fair.

Called the “Amazing Africa Collection” the show will feature local fashion designers Sibusiswe Msimang, Treasure Cindi, Eli Ball, Melinda Corrine, Vanessa Pillay, Martin John Steenkamp, Warren Morck and Kwenzi Nkomo in a non-competitive opportunity to unleash their creative interpretations of the raceday theme “Stars of Africa”.

The common link binding the eight designers is their involvement with the Durban Fashion Fair, a long-standing supporter of the Vodacom Durban July fashion programme and a crucial pillar of support for many emerging models and fashion design professionals in the eThekwini Municipality.

Sindi Shangase who oversees the Durban Fashion Fair programme for the city says it has been a great success story and the new show will be an excellent platform to highlight the depth of talent in the region and the success stories that have moved through their ranks.

“Zama Mathe launched her range at the DFF in 2012 and she is is a Vodacom Durban July Invited Designer again this year. Casey Jeanne also launched using DFF and the Vodacom Durban July as a platform and she is highly successful now,” said Shangase.

“The new Amazing Africa Collection sits well alongside the theme “Stars of Africa” and we will be looking to profile stars from this city, South Africa and indeed the continent of Africa,” said DFF convener Sindi Shangase. Photo By Pierre Retief for Gameplan Media

“So many designers and fashion professionals try to start out launching their brands on their own,” she noted. “By pooling our efforts we can offer them far greater reach and this really helps to develop the industry and launch careers in a far more impactful way.”

“This show will be a celebration of our successes as much as it is a way to continue our efforts to launch careers of another generation of powerful local brands.

“It sits well alongside the theme “Stars of Africa” and we will be looking to profile stars from this city, South Africa and indeed the continent of Africa,” she added.

Fashion programme director Tiffany Prior added that the rationale behind the non-competitive platform was a logical extension of the powerful programme that draws together the Durban Fashion Fair and events like the Vodacom Durban July to positively influence the careers of aspirant fashion professionals.

“Durban has always been a hotbed of fashion design talent, and the amazing work that the DFF does to support the next generation of talent is truly remarkable.

“This show is a celebration of the successes of this collaboration and to highlight the opportunities available to fashion professionals starting their careers,” said Prior.

“The eight designers have all made their mark on the fashion design industry. What they all have in common is their journey as Durban designers who have been helped on their way by the Durban Fashion Fair and the Vodacom Durban July fashion platforms,” she said.

The eight designers showing in the Amazing Africa Collection:
Sibu Msimang
Treasure Cindi
Eli Ball
Melinda Corrine
Vanessa Pillay
Martin John Steenkamp
Warren Morck
Kwenzi Nkomo

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The Vodacom Durban July takes place at Greyville Racecourse on Saturday 6 July 2019.

More information can be found at www.vodacomdurbanjuly.co.za