The academically decorated and career-driven young man, Andile Nsele continues to excel in his academics as he graduated Cum Laude for the second time. He obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Fashion Design at Durban University of Technology (DUT) 2024 Autumn Graduation ceremony at Olive Convention Centre, Durban on Tuesday, 28 May 2024.

The 32-year-old’s first Cum Laude achievement came in year 2022 for his Advanced Diploma in Fashion Design. He holds a BCom in Finance and Marketing and a National Diploma in Fashion and Textile. He is also currently studying for his Master’s in Fashion and Textile.

Reflecting on his academic attainment, he said that he never dreamt himself having this enormous success.

“I am happy to see that hard work and loving your discipline pays off. Never thought I was that smart, but dreams do come true,’’ she added.

Nsele, hailing from the East of Durban in Newlands, signifies the meaning of excellence and his decorated career speaks for itself. He competed at the International Youth Design Competition hosted in Beijing, China by BIFT – (Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology). Won an award for excellence achievement at the competition in 2019. He was a Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Awards runner-up in 2019 and 2023.

The fashionista sees himself as a multidisciplinary designer enthusiastic about creating socially conscious fashion that speaks to everyday social issues in the African continent.

“I have always been intrigued by creative and innovative solutions to historical social issues. I call my style of fashion ‘documentary fashion’ within the Black community, an Africanised lens,’’ he said.

He highlighted that honesty was among the DUT ENVISION2030 living values and principles that he associated with. “If you are honest to yourself, engage with yourself, and live your truth then there is nothing in the physical and the spiritual world you cannot achieve,’’

Currently working as a trainee buyer at Mr Price, Nsele hopes to start his enterprise of business within the fashion space but also fuse other spaces like food, entertainment, and media.

Advising first-year students who wish to make a career in Fashion Design he said: “Put your head down at hustle, even if you cannot see the light, it does not mean that morning will not come,’’ he concluded.
#DUTGrad24 #UnlockedExcellence #AdaptiveGraduates.

Pictured: Andile Nsele.

Photographer: Mnqobi Ngobese.

Vukani Langa