Venaldon Naidoo is aligned with the Durban University of Technology (DUT) tagline, which is creative, distinctive and impactful. Naidoo completed his Advanced Diploma in Fashion Design, a programme which requires one to be more creative.
The 26-year-old from Durban graduated Cum Laude with the Dean’s Merit award on Tuesday, 20 May 2025 at the DUT 2025 Autumn Graduation Ceremony, which took place at the Olive Convention Centre (OCC) in Durban.
Reflecting on his journey at DUT, he shared that it had not always been easy. He mentioned that his first year was an adjustment period, having taken a two-year break from studying. However, in his second year, a friend’s impressive marks motivated him to strive for similar grades, and he credited the high standards in the fashion department for pushing him to excel.
Naidoo also spoke about his postgraduate academics, highlighting the challenging yet rewarding experience of studying abroad in France in 2024, where he had to juggle coursework from two universities. Despite the difficulties, he felt the experience made him stronger, and he was surprised but thrilled with his final marks.
“Graduating Cum Laude was never on the forefront of my mind, I always just wanted to do the best I could in whatever I was presented with. I did think about it, but at the end of the year it was more about surviving the year. When I found out that I graduated with Cum Laude I was happy that my hard work had paid off in the end,” he added.
When asked about the DUT living values and principles that resonate with him, he emphasises respect as a core value. The principles that stand out to him are professionalism, commitment, and excellence.
“Through my time at DUT, I have adopted these principles, and I believe they shape who I am today. Professionalism earns your respect, commitment means seeing things through no matter the challenges, and excellence pushes you to be your best self. I believe we should show respect to everything around us, including people and the planet,” he added.
His passion for fashion began at a young age, and despite initial hesitation, it continued to grow. “I am not sure what would have happened if I hadn’t pursued fashion at DUT,” he expressed. His goal is to explore various aspects of the art world and create as much as possible.
He advises aspiring fashion students to ensure that their passion for the field is genuine, as the journey is long, challenging, and filled with obstacles that can make one doubt their decision. Another thing he said, he would say students must always ask those who were on the path before you for guidance.
Currently, he has moved to Cape town and have started a casual job at a thrift store while he is interning at a ceramic studio to explore different mediums. He is looking into future possibilities in styling and other creative endeavours.
Pictured: Venaldon Naidoo
Phiwayinkosi Sibiya
