Students wow judges at Vodacom Durban July

Despite the winter chill, the heat was turned up on the fashion season as a huge group of hopeful students converged on Greyville Racecourse hoping to make the semi-final round of the prestigious Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award, presented by Durban Fashion Fair.

Ayanda Jukuja (left) snaps a selfie with (from left) Merushka Pillay, Upasana Nunkumar and Jade Wells at the first round of judging for the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award, presented by Durban Fashion Fair.

Over a 120 students representing six fashion design colleges from across the province nervously packed into the Steward’s Room, waiting for their chance to appear before the judges and explain their interpretation of the theme “It Is Time”.

Ayanda Jukuja (left) snaps a selfie with Merushka Pillay at the first round of judging for the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award, presented by Durban Fashion Fair.

The panel of judges included well known Durban designers Terrence Bray and Sandile ‘Duke’ Mngadi, lecturer Greg Wallace, and Sindi Shangase from the Durban Fashion Fair, co-ordinated by Vodacom Durban July Fashion Programme director Tiffany Prior.

Quinton Hlongwane (left)a third year student at the Lindiwe Khuzwayo Academy, shows off his Roman inspired menswear, modelled by Bongani Khumalo at the first round of judging for the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award, presented by Durban Fashion Fair.

“It was a long and agonising session, but it was quite interesting, especially the interpretations of the theme ,” said Shangase after the marathon judging session.

“Some designers were so close to the theme and some were so far off you could see that they didn’t understand the theme itself.

“Some of the designers that were spot on theme were let down by poor execution, while others who missed the theme came forward with so really great execution in their garments,” she added. “That made the judging tough.”

She said that the depth and quality of the entry had made judging difficult, but left her inspired.

“It gives us hope in terms of the future that there are more designers come up and willing to join the industry.”

The thirty semi-finalists will come before another panel of judges at the popular fashion show at Greyville Racecourse on Tuesday 19 June, where the entry will be reduced to ten finalists. Entry to the show is free of charge.

The finalists chosen for the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award, presented by Durban Fashion Fair are:
Makhosazana Ntshangase, Nonjabulo Shabalala, Nosipho Ntuli, Makhosazana Ntshangase, Siyabonga Phakathi, Tayla Simpson, Chané Lange, Kelly Knock, Zintle Poswa, Nicola Colyn, Nhlosenhle Cele, Babalwa Matiyela, Yowa Batubenga, Silungile Dlamini, Nhlakanipho Ximba, Alexandra van Heerden, Tebogo Mokope, Andile Nsele, Minenhle Memela, Thobile Dlamini, Kelly Love, Aaliah Docrat, Mhlengi Mngoma, Siyabonga Mahlaba, Georgino Brink, Masego Motseokae, Sicelinhlanhla Ngcobo, Gracious Lubisi.

Fashion will be popping in Durban this festive season – The Box Shop

The Box Shop (a stylish pop up fashion shop) will be doing a pop-up tour of the city from the 1st of December until the 3rdDecember 2017. The city’s fashion lovers can visit three different locations – North Beach, Morningside and Umlazi – for some urban chic fashion.

Marc Percy from the DFF (Durban Fashion Fair) Emporium lends his support to DIVA’s Brenda Quin for her selections of her creations that will be showcasing in the POP UP BOX SHOP.

The Pop-Up tour will showcase the Spring/Summer 2017 collections of fourteen local designers from Durban and Johannesburg.

These include: Diva by Brenda Quin (by Brenda Quin), Frida Couture (by Yvette C Ngushirwa), Indoni Fashion House (by Kwenzi Nkomo), Marparkisha (by Sibu Msimang), Elppag (by Khetha Kweyama), Skinny Sbu Socks (by Sibusiso Nqwenya) and many more.

According to Sindi Shangase, founder of the Durban Fashion Fair (DFF) and manager of the eThekwini municipality’s business support programme, the Pop-Up Tour is another fashion first to come out of the DFF which has not only identified emerging Durban fashion talent but also mentored them so they are better acquainted with the business side of fashion and take their creations to market. Shangase said that Durban was taking a leaf out of the fashion book of the iconic Vilakazi Street in Soweto which has its own Box Shop.

The Box Shop is a pre-retail incubator designed to promote new and up-and-coming Soweto-based designers and brands and give opportunities to small businesses. It sells designer gear as well as locally manufactured cosmetics and accessories.

It was launched in April of 2016 as a business incubator to support women and youth owned enterprises and provide a platform for access to markets for emerging businesses. The Durban leg of the Pop-Up Tour is the result of a partnership between eThekwini Municipality, Citi Foundation, Durban Tourism and the Durban Fashion Fair.

It also forms part of the Box Shop retail omni-channel expansion strategy to generate data, public awareness, interest and build relationships with Durban partners, entrepreneurs and customers.

“The Box Shop Pop-Up tour is part of a preliminary market penetration strategy for the 2nd Box Shop physical outlet coming to Durban in 2018 with the hopes of securing two locations in Florida Road and North Beach, “explains Shangase.

“80% of the brands that will be sold come from local designers across South Africa. While we are a fashion retail business, we are aware of the struggles new brands go through to find suitable points of sale. Like the eThekwini Municipality, The Box Shop is committed to helping designers gain access to markets, find the right locations and promote local design,” adds Sifiso Moyo, co-founder of The Box Shop.

Come on down and support your local designers at the nearest “Box Shop” Pop-up Store near you on Friday, December 1st between 12h00 and 22h00 at the North Beach venue next to the Tourism Offices on the Beachfront.

Then on Saturday, December 2nd you can find us on the corner of Gordon and Florida Roads between 12h00 and 22h00 and on Sunday, December 3rd you can find us at the infamous Max’s Lifestyle Restaurant situated at 328 Mbe Road in Umlazi between 12h00 and 22h00.

To find out more about our designers participating in the Box Shop Pop Up store visit us at: Twitter: @theboxshopsa / @dbnfashion_fair | Instagram: @the_box_shop_sa / @dbnfashion_fair | Facebook: The Box Shop / Durban Fashion Fair

PALSE Sets The Bar High At SA Fashion Week 2017

Paledi Segapo, Founder and Creative Director of fashion power house Palse, set the bar high at this year’s SA Fashion Week, delivering show stopping ensembles worthy of an emperor, as he’s affectionately known.  Palse showcased their new line, titled “I am an African”, inspired by the 1996 speech of former South African President, Thabo Mbeki.

Making a special appearance on the runway was Palse ambassador and multi-award winning artist Donald and the renowned Jamaican born model Stevel Marc. Attended by some of SA’s elite in the media industry, Palse’s guest list included actress Nomzamo Mbatha, entrepreneur sisters Basetsana Kumalo and Johana Mukoki, fashion icon Uyanda Mbuli and Sowetan entertainment editor Lesley Mofokeng.

Sharing his thoughts on the show, Lesley Mofokeng said – “I am glad Paledi is embracing the African extracts and the show was beautifully put together. He maintained the African theme which made the collection to be uplifting and beautiful. The overall show including music was delicate and blended with the clothes being showcased”.

With 2017 having already been a magnificent year for the designer, Paledi is also due to showcase his new winter collection at Windhoek Fashion Week in November and Swahili Fashion Week (Tanzania) in December.

Last month the fashion creative was honoured at Men’s Fashion Week Nigeria MAN Awards 2017, receiving the night’s highest honour the “Special Fashion Achievement Award”, for his contribution in shaping Africa’s fashion industry

Segapo currently headlines the CAT Footwear national campaign and is a weekly fashion columnist for the Sunday Sun newspaper.

Paledi Segapo To Be Honoured At Men’s Fashion Week Nigeria

Paledi Segapo, Founder and Creative Director of fashion power house ‘Palse’, is set to be honoured at this year’s Men’s Fashion Week Nigeria MAN Awards, receiving the night’s highest honour the “Special Fashion Achievement Award”. The MAN Awards recognize the outstanding work of gentlemen that have distinguished themselves through artistic and organizational impetus and shaping Africa’s fashion industry.  

Commenting on his award Segapo says – “When I received a call from MFWN organisers I was left completely blown away on finding out I’ll be presented with their highest honour of the night. It honestly leaves me feeling ecstatic and very grateful that my work is acknowledged not only in South Africa but also in the continent.”

Not only being honored Segapo will also be showcasing for the second time at MFWN, but is no stranger to the Nigerian market having showcased at numerous other events before.   

The renowned designer will be showcasing his new collection themed “I am An African” which he recently showcased in London in August this year, inspired by the 1996 speech of former South African President Thabo Mbeki.

With 2017 having already been a magnificent year for the designer, he is also due to showcase his new winter collection at SA Fashion Week 2017 in October, Windhoek Fashion Week in November and lastly Swahili Fashion Week (Tanzania) in December.

Highlighting his best experiences over the years – “Being part of the face that’s changing the local fashion landscape, having established the Business Management of Fashion Seminar and most importantly working with my award winning brand ambassador – Donald. No one can ever imagine the magnitude of experience I’ve acquired that continues to make strive be the best creative yet.”

Undoubtedly one of the most respected designers in SA and Africa as a whole, Segapo has much to say about the local fashion industry.  

“The fashion industry is very precarious and ephemeral. In SA our industry is unlike the European and American brands which have enormous investment muscle behind them or under holding companies, e.g Loius Vuitton, Dior are under the LVMH group. Our brands are run and owned solely by the designers. As you can imagine, cash flow is the determining factor to stay afloat. Taking into cognisance we don’t showcase for free at fashion week events, there’s a huge cost factor involved. In short, it’s survival of the fittest.”

“My advice for upcoming designers – Don’t be in a hurry to start your own fashion label. Intern, learn from the best positioned in the game. Overnight sensations yield short term results,” he continues.

Segapo currently headlines the CAT Footwear national campaign and is a weekly fashion columnist for the Sunday Sun newspaper.