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Designers, Randaree and Reddy Part of DFF Mentorship Programme

Designers, Randaree and Reddy Part of DFF Mentorship Programme

The Department of Fashion and Textiles at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) aims to emphasises a distinctive relationship between practice and research in the belief that this combination provides the creative tensions necessary for students to achieve their full potential.

 

Aaliya-RandareeAlumni, Aaliya Randaree – known by her fashion label AaliyaArr, who graduated in 2017, is one of the two mentees who has been selected to be a part of the Durban Fashion Fair (DFF) Mentorship programme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pearlene-Reddy
The second mentee is DUT student Pearlene Reddy – known simply as Pearl and designing under the label The League, is currently completing her fashion studies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The annual Durban Fashion Fair is one of the biggest fashion events on the South African fashion calendar and is well attended by a number of fashion media, fashion buyers and fashionistas.

This year, the Durban Fashion Fair will take place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC) from 19 to 22 September 2018.  The DFF will form part of the annual Durban Business Fair which is a premier business exhibition, hosted by the eThekwini Municipality.

Part of the DFF is the 10-month fashion development programme that is facilitated by industry experts aimed at capacitating and preparing the young designers for the industry. The programme focuses on mentoring the young designers into building sustainable fashion businesses that can generate income and offer employment opportunities.

The two mentees, who are part of the programme will be receiving ‘hands-on’ technical and business training. The two young designers are also invited to inspirational tours and talks where various established designers share their journey and how they have been able to succeed and sustain their brands.

The programme will prepare the two designers for the annual Durban Fashion Fair, where they are given an opportunity to showcase their collections to the buyers and the fashion media.

The designers have to conceptualise a concept, create patterns and construct garments that will be showcased at the DFF. Each designer is requested to present a collection that will demonstrate their brand identity and that will appeal to a specific target market.

Randaree knew from an early age, that she would make a career in the fashion industry. Her favourite local designer is Gavin Rajah and given the opportunity, she would most like to dress local celebrity blogger Aqeelah Haroon Ally and international blogger Dina Tokio.

Her designs are inspired by the creativity of street wear, with her overall style embodying simple designs and silhouettes using interesting embellishments, prints and fabrics. Embellishments of pearls and beads are a major influence in her designs right now. Her biggest achievement to date, is winning the DUT Fashion Show’s most commercial fashion range award and being one of the top four finalists for the AFI fast track programme 2018. With a family in the clothing business. Reddy is inspired by practicality and believes that fashion should be effortless. Her favourite local designer is David Tlale and she would like to dress Shekinah and Rihanna. She is hoping that the 2018 mentorship workshops will help her to create a name for herself and assist her in establishing a recognisable brand.

Phillip Sithole, Head: Business Support, Tourism and Markets Unit, said:

“The fashion and textile sector is one of the thriving industries in our country and remains central to job creation, youth employment, as well as creating various economic trade and investment opportunities. There is a real opportunity for the private sector to get behind this dynamic sector and to help drive it forward. Not only does it help to spur an important sector of the economy but it can also boost Durban’s brand as a whole,” he said.

For more information, go to http://www.durbanfashionfair.com.

Waheeda Peters

 

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