(Designer Haroun
Hansrot, who was among the judges)
Some 15 Fashion and Textiles students from the Durban
University of Technology designed, cut and sewed their way to the semi-finals
of the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer competition, with the
10 best candidates heading onto the runway on June 17 and 19.
Winners will be announced on race day
and will take home a grand prize of R10,000, compliments of Gold Circle. The fashion forward student designers were
invited to participate in the annual
competition with their race day ensemble that reflected this year’s theme: The
Captain’s Table, and encompassed the true spirit of South Africa’s most
prestigious horse racing event, happening on July 4.
Just under 100 fashion students from fashion schools
across KZN flocked to the annual competition to showcase their stunning
designs.
The excited and nervous students exhibited their
designs to the high-powered panel of judges, consisting of Haroun Hansrot,
Durban Fashion Fair mentor Greg Wallis, Monica Holman from Gold Circle, Sindi
Shangase from Durban Fashion Fair and Tiffany Prior, Fashion Programme Director
of the Vodacom Durban July.
The judges were partiality selective with their choices this year,
opting for designs that pushed creative boundaries but still fitted into the
creative brief. Both Hansrot and Shingase were impressed by the handiwork and
immense detail put in by the young designers.
Wallis, along with the other judges, was blown away by the high quality
of the student’s designs. “I was most impressed with all the designers. Whether
they were chosen or not, they really understood and stuck to the brief,"
said Wallace. "Some of them interpreted the theme in mysterious ways,
which is so exciting to see.”
Holman said, “It has been the best year so far. The designers truly
grasped the brief, understood the theme and really pulled out all the stops.”
The 15 DUT semi-finalists are Nqobile
Daniella Nxumalo, Aphele Zanenhlanhla Lesedi Chonco, Alexander James Cox,
Joslyn Kim Jacks, Dokota Jude Baptist, Carla Ann Gerstmeier, Grayson Smit,
Tamlyn Jayne Bergoff, Sheilla Shelembe, Kimosha Ganas, Geina Mongezi, Simphiwe
Luthando Ximba, Dineo Mote, Londiwe Nobuhle Hadebe and Tracy Sunshine Mwelase.
Tickets for the spectacular Vodacom Durban July Fashion Experience Shows
are available through fashionbooking@goldcircle.co.za or call Thobeka on 031 314 1645.
More information can be found at www.vodacomdurbanjuly.co.za
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