The common phenomenon that fashion is an expression of one’s individuality became evident yesterday (Wednesday, October 02, 2013) at the Fred Crookes Sports Centre, Steve Biko Campus during the opening of the Annual DUT Fashion Show.

Here, models adorned with designs by third-year Fashion and Textiles students took over the runway, displaying their (students’) exquisite ranges.

As in previous years, the fashion show runs for three days, the first two days dedicated to showing each student’s range, with the final day reserved for the best 20 ranges from the first two days. Students were each tasked with creating a seven-piece range under the theme “i-aesthete”, a notion fashion and textiles lecturer Terrence Bray said promotes individualism.

From high-end to prêt-à-porter (ready-to-wear) fashion, students put their best foot forward yesterday. With each collection, the audience got a sense of who the designers are and what they are about. Now and again, one spotted modern fashion trends such as the peplum and pencil skirt, but these were tweaked or fused with other elements of the designers’ take on fashion.

Sthandiwe Khumalo steered clear of the status quo, presenting a geometric range which received great applause from the audience. Her garments were in white and off-white hues, soft colours which were complimented by soft fabrics in satin, cotton and clear plastic. The trance music theme song used while showing the range made for a great finishing touch.

students such as Nondumiso Sibiya and Keegan Anderson opted for conceptual ranges with which they could convey a message and make a statement respectively.

Sibiya said she was inspired by modern society and its post colonial mentality. “My range is about the influence catholic religion has had on African people. For instance, nowadays we are told to cover our bodies with clothes because showing off skin is considered wrong. But if you look at South African culture, back in the King Shaka Zulu era, the ideology was different then and showing off one’s body had a different meaning,” she said. Describing the interesting accessories worn by her models, mouthpieces and blank tags placed on the midriff, Sibiya said, “The blank tags represent censorship while the mouthpieces represent the silence or lack of debates around this issue.”

Anderson decided to express his views on a more controversial and personal issue: homosexuality. “My range is called “Prince-s” and this is about the homosexual male now making the heterosexual male dress up metrosexually. The sub-theme is “gay boy gangster” and I was basically inspired by MC Hammer’s style. The range is very retro and over the top; I used animal print and other fabrics, pairing these with gold accessories,” he said. The designer also used the pink inverted triangle on some of his garments to represent gay pride.

The fashion show continues at 7pm this evening (Thursday, October 3, 2013) at the Fred Crookes Sports Centre, Steve Biko Campus.

– Naledi Hlefane

Pictured: One of the ranges on show during this year’s DUT Annual Fashion Show. Tyla Gormley’s range was on show yesterday (Wednesday, 02, October, 2013).