Durban University of Technology students dominated in the exciting fashion arena, winning the top three positions in the prestigious Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award at Greyville Racecourse, this Saturday.

Second-year Fashion student, Katekani Moreku was beyond ecstatic after being named the winner in this annual competition.Moreku beat more than a hundred entrants from Technikons and Colleges from around the province of KwaZulu-Natal and he joins a list of prominent Young Designer winners which includes 2014 winner Sadie Bosworth-Smith, who is one of 2017’s Invited Designers.

“It’s my first time entering such a fashion competition and the feeling is so new, I am so amazed and feel on top of the world. Everything is a first for me, the first time coming to the Durban July, actually, the first time entering a fashion competition so it’s really been a great experience,” he said excitedly. Moreku’s design depicted a carnival with lots of vibrant colours and accessories being used from colourful buttons, mixed fabrics, prints, with the aim of bringing out a special feeling of colour. He has now secured his place at the Fashion Week in Johannesburg taking place in October 2017.

Designer Warren Morck, a DUT alumni, was all praises for Moreku, adding that he was on point with his design. “Mixing colours and fabrics can turn out disastrous but he hit the jackpot with his creation. It was fun and funky with some sophistication,” he said.

In second place was Hlengiwe Queeneth Mdunge and coming in the third position was Nazreen Paruk.
Designers had to dazzle the judges on the technicality of their outfit, how well they interpreted the theme “The Colour of Magic” when creating a raceday ensemble that effortlessly portrayed the stylish and sophisticated spirit of the Vodacom Durban July.

Besides dominating Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Awards, DUT’s Tiloné Viljoen was crowned the winner of the Vodacom Durban July Fashion Challenge presented by Durban Fashion Fair, also on raceday.

Pictured: The top three of the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award (from left): third place Pinkie Mthiyane (model) and Nazreen Paruk (designer), winner Luvuyo Shoba (model) Katekani Moreku (designer), second place Hlengiwe Queeneth Mdunge (designer) Bianca Khowa (model).

Waheeda Peters/Gameplan Media