(#DFF2018
winners: Aldytha Da Silva (Business Award: Kryolan); Ntando Shandu (New Face);
Martin John Steenkamp (Fashion Innovator & Next Generation Emerging
Designer Awards); Samuel Quame Owusu (Best African Menswear Collection); Nassim
Samma (Best African Ladieswear Collection); Zama Mathe (DFF Durban Designer of
the Year 2018); Brenda Quin (Best Ladieswear Collection); Zamabhele Ntshangase
(Rising Star); Chu Suwannapha (Best Menswear Collection); Khulekani Sithole and
Sicelinhlanhla Ngcobo (Rising Star); Nandile Mkhize (New Face); Cari St Quentin
(Rising Star); Insert: Muzi Innocent Mhlambo (Collection of the Week).)
The Durban Fashion Fair (DFF), celebrating
a seven year run ended on a high note on September 22 with an award ceremony
recognizing local and international emerging and established designers.
The DFF ran alongside the Durban Business
Fair who also celebrated their 20th anniversary at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli
International Convention Centre and the Durban Exhibition Centre.
Themed Afrofuturism
and hosted by much-loved radio and television personality Anele Mdoda, the
highlight of this four-day fashion extravaganza celebrated the talents of the
future and recognised the maestros of the present.
The most coveted award of the evening - the
Durban Designer of the Year 2018 – went to Zama Mathe, head designer of the
brand Zarth. Mathe is a protégé of the DFF and head of a growing and successful
business. Founded in 2009, Zarth has evolved into a creative design house
employing a fully qualified team of professionals. The fledgling brand made its
DFF debut in 2013, earning her an internship to Milan, Italy. She has
participated at the DFF every year since then. This is the second year she has
clinched the award, having also being chosen as the DFF Designer of the Year
title in 2016.
The Collection of the Week award went to
Muzi Innocent Mhlambo who launched his brand, Mita-N Dzyns in 2010. Self-taught
and ambitious, he has honed his career and grown his passion for fashion
through the DFF.
This year’s Best Ladieswear Collection 2018
Award went to Diva Designs, Brenda Quin for a stunning collection that encapsulates
her combination of combining boldness with femininity while the Best Menswear
Collection went to well-known fashion writer and award winning designer, Chu
Suwannapha and his brand Chulaap. Trained in Paris and resident in South Africa
for 18 years, Chu was raised in Thailand but boldly celebrates the diversity of
Africa through graphic, print oriented designs.
Deputy Mayor, Councillor Fawzia Peer opened
the Durban Fashion Fair Recognition Awards, declaring that the entire endeavour
was a noble cause. They noted that the eThekwini Municipality had invested
approximately R40 million in various fashion development programmes over the
past six years which had enabled it to touch the lives of more than 1,800
designers, many of whom had gone on to showcase not only their creations
internationally but had also built businesses and created jobs. She noted that
fashion had an important part to play in the economic development agenda of the
city and said that the DFF was an important foundation for the creation of
sustainable businesses in the city of Durban.
While the theme of Afrofuturism focused on the creation of an African fashion culture,
this needed to be moved into the future with patriotism. She urged both the
audience and Durban as a whole to do this by supporting local designers and
buying their clothes.
“The DFF must be viewed as a symbol of
greatness, of what we can achieve when we work together and we are grateful to
all of those who have played an active role in making this event such a
success,” Peer said.
The DFF Recognition Awards not only
recognises local excellence, but also commends those who have travelled from
across Africa to participate.
Here, the Best African Menswear Collection
went to Ghanaian designer, Samuel Quame Owusu and his label Quame Owusu for the
second year in a row. The Best African Ladieswear Collection Award was
collected by Nassim Samma from Burundi, who launched Samma Collections in 2015.
Martin John Steenkamp, whose label Martin
John encapsulates androgynous design with menswear pieces that channel into
women’s wear took home two prestigious awards - Fashion Innovator Award and the
Next Generation Emerging Designer Award.
The Durban Fashion Legend 2018 which is
based on nominations from within the local fashion industry went to Amanda
Laird Cherry while the Fashion Business Award went to make-up house, Kryolan.
Switching to new talent, the much
anticipated Rising Stars Awards – which pick out the three top performing
mentees that participate in a year-long designer mentorship programme in the
run up to the DFF – were Cari St Quentin, Zamabhele Ntshangase and the label
Black Rose which combines the talents of Khulekani Sithole and Sicelinhlanhla Ngcobo.
Five years ago, the DFF introduced a model
search, providing an opportunity for youngsters from disadvantaged communities not
only to get themselves on the DFF ramp but also to begin to build a modelling
career.
This year’s DFF New Face of the Year
(ladies) was Nandile Mkhize, while the New Face of the Year (men) was Ntando
Shandu.
Catch all the fashion action from the
#DFF2018 on the facebook page: Durban Fashion Fair or on Twitter / Instagram
@Dbnfashion_fair .
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