Student designers spread their wings

Twenty students from four design colleges across KwaZulu-Natal celebrated being named in the semi-finals of the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award, presented by Durban Fashion Fair, with a marked shift in the colleges enjoying a share of the limelight.

With DUT students noticeably absent, second year fashion design students from the Lindiwe Khuzwayo Academy of Fashion Design, the Pietermaritzburg School of Fashion, Vega and the Fezile Fashion Skills Academy accounted for the twenty semi-finalist berths.

The twenty designs that made the semi-finals of the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on Monday. Photo By Anthony Grote for
Gameplan Media

The students designed a raceday outfit based on the theme “Birds of a Feather” and provided the trademark cutting-edge creativity and technical innovation that the competition has become famous for.

Taking a photo of her “glamorous aviator” design, modelled by Zobaphi Hlongwa, is Fezile Fashion Skills Academy student designer Goodness Mtshali at the first round of judging of the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on Monday. Photo By Anthony Grote for
Gameplan Media

Greg Wallis, one of the five-strong panel of judges that had to whittle the entry of 73 garments down to the twenty semi-finalists, said he was excited to see the emergence of fashion design talent from newer colleges in the region.

Lindiwe Khuzwayo Academy of Fashion Design student S’busiswe Dube presented a matching pair of outfits at the first round of judging of the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on Monday, her Master and Messiah designs modelled by Uviwe Thonga (left) and Nokwethemba Cele (right). Photo By Anthony Grote for
Gameplan Media

“It is quite amazing how every year the students rise to the occasion, and no matter what the theme is, they interpret it in their own way, and I must say that the research and thought processes that have gone into the outfits this year was quite incredible,”.

said Wallis

“There were several entries from new colleges and they featured in the top twenty, which is really exciting”.

he added
Pietermaritzburg School of Fashion student designers Vincent Orishedere (left) and Nontembeko Dingiswayo (right) with their outfits modelled by Felix Makhathini and Amanda Xulu at the first round of judging of the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on Monday. Photo By Anthony Grote for
Gameplan Media

“The energy and excitement amongst the students was incredible and when the semi-finalists were announced the way the students came together, whether they had won or lost, was overwhelming,”.

said Wallis
Inspired by the tale of the Ugly Duckling Acsha Pietersen from the Pietermaritzburg School of Fashion puts the final touches to her design, modelled by Kayla Libndsay, at the first round of judging of the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on Monday. Photo By Anthony Grote for
Gameplan Media

“It reinforces the fact that Durban is a real hotbed of fashion design talent, and it never fails us,”.

he added
Student designer Bernadine Singh (right) gives her approval to her outfit, modelled by Sephora Menda, at the first round of judging of the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on Monday. Photo By Anthony Grote for
Gameplan Media

The twenty semi-finalists in the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award, presented by Durban Fashion Fair, are:
Mlungisi Mpanza, S’busiswe Dube, Nomathemba Zikhali, Portia Mkhize, Bernadine Singh, Zandile Mahlasela (all Lindiwe Khuzwayo Academy of Fashion Design) Qhubekani Nzimande, Silindile Mzobe, Sduduzo Ntanzi, Gcina Ngcoya, Simangele Ngcobo (all Fezile Fashion Skills Academy), Phumlani Buthulezi, Nomfundo Meyiwa, Acsah Pietersen, Vincent Orishedere, Nombulelo Ngcobo, Lindeka Duma, Thando Nguse (all Pietermaritzburg School of Fashion), Tashriq Chanderlal, Aliyah Hassim (both Vega).

Vega students made an impact on the first round of judging of the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on Monday, from left Aliyah Hassim, Petrina Pillay, Nondumiso Anele Sibiya, Rishay Nohor and Tashriq Chanderlal. Photo By Anthony Grote for
Gameplan Media

The 2021 Vodacom Durban July takes place at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on Saturday 3 July. More information can be found at www.vodacomdurbanjuly.co.za 

Social Media
#VDJ2021
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/VodacomDurbanJuly/
Twitter https://twitter.com/VodacomDbnJuly
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/VodacomDurbanJuly/

Start typing and press Enter to search