Three Durban University of Technology Fashion and Textile graduates have been nominated to be part of the 2017 Emerging Creatives: Extended Class in this year’s Design Indaba.
Nivadni Sewnath and Nishthi Sewnath, who are twins, and Wanda Majubana made the cut in the 2017 Emerging Creatives: Extended Class which will exhibit artworks at the KwaZulu-Natal Society of Arts (KZNSA) Gallery in Durban. Majubana won the Best Menswear Range award for his Samurai inspired Animé range at the 2016 DUT Annual Fashion Show.
Every year, the Design Indaba’s Emerging Creatives Programme searches for young South African creative minds to offer them a breakthrough in the industry.
In creating unique garments featuring efficient design, Nivadni’s inspiration is drawn from South Africa’s diverse cultural heritage. When her love for art began at an early age, little did she know that her sketching and fashion design would bring her this far. “I design ladies wear which are authentic, simplistic and contemporary to our continent. Being part of the Emerging Designers Creative Class is a great opportunity to showcase my work. In turn, the programme will help me gain exposure in the fashion industry,” she said.
While her twin sister’s designs are created with a sense of intuition in addition to aesthetics, the opportunity will assist Nishthi in carrying through her range she had showcased during the 2016 DUT Annual Fashion Show. “This is a learning experience for me. I have met so many other local designers who can be very helpful in my journey as a fashion designer,” she said. From this experience, Nishthi hopes to launch her own fashion brand and take her designs to an international platform.
Majubana has always been fascinated by art. Be it drawing cartoons or fashion designs, he knew his path would end up in fashion. “I’m inspired by art, Animé, gaming and music. I love Gert Johan-Coetzee’s work. My fantasy is to also just like him, have my work showcased locally and internationally,” said Majubana.
His goal in life is to create a unique brand which aims to make his clients “feel good, energised and sexy while looking smart”. His current work’s key elements are sex appeal, sportiness and edginess. Majubana is also participating in the Durban Fashion Fair where he hopes to further learn pattern making and construction, the costing of garments, brand marketing and networking with other business people in the industry.
– Noxolo Memela
Pictured: Nishthi Sewnath, Wanda Majubana and Nivadni Sewnath.
Picture credit: Colourise Photography Studio
