This past Saturday, September 14th, The Workshop Shopping Centre in proud association with eThekwini Municipality, Durban Fashion Fair, Vodacom and East Coast Radio hosted the finale event of The Workshop’s Young Designer’s Competition. Spectators, ranging from invited stakeholders to curious shoppers, watched in anticipation as 10 up-and-coming young designers battled it out for the grand prizes that were up for grabs!

Tension was high as the selected designers had only 2 hours to construct a garment that looked visually appealing, was trendy and current and fit their pre-selected model perfectly.

Andiswa Jemsana, Zola Madondo, Zamani Shezi, Kerisha Govender

The crowd was in awe of each of the designer’s looks as models strutted their stuff down the catwalk hoping to impress the judging panel which included Durban-based designer Mxolisi Mkhize, founder of The House of St Luke; Kwenzi Nkomo, founder and designer of Indoni Fashion House as well as Lindiwe Kuzwayo, founder of the Lindiwe Kuzwayo Fashion Design Studio and Lindiwe Kuzwayo Academy of Fashion.

In the end, the overall winner was Sithembhile Mncwango, with Judaine Naidoo coming in 2nd place and Thoba Mbhelu wrapping up the Top 3.

Mbalezinhle Madondo, Nompumelelo Mdluli, Zamabhele Ntshangase

These designers walked away with a share of R150 000 in prizes which included Retail space at the shopping centre, each receiving a professional photoshoot for their portfolio, category cash prizes, inclusion to the 2020 Durban Fashion Fair Mentorship Program, and entry tickets into the upcoming Durban Fashion Fair which takes place under the umbrella of the Durban Business Fair at the ICC Durban from Sept 25-28.

The Workshop Shopping Centre would like to thank all those that contributed to making this event a successful one as well as those who attended and showed their support to the future of our fashion industry!

Silindile Majozi, Thobeka Mhlongo, Toyo Mkhize