Keegan Anderson, third-year Fashion and Textiles student won the Best Menswear Range award at this year’s finale of the DUT Fashion Show which was held on Friday (September 05, 2013) at the Fred Crookes Sport Centre, Steve Biko Campus.

The 20 year-old from Durban North described his award as unexpected as “there was a lot talent in the competition”, a sentiment echoed by the judges. “I was hoping for (to win) Most Innovative Range but getting Best Menswear Range is actually more of an achievement for me,” he Anderson.

Anderson customised most of the fabric he used by bleaching, dying and printing on it. He also used leather for certain areas of his designs.

The Fashion Show, which ended on a high note, was held over three days. Ten students who participated in the show were chosen to be part of next year’s Africa Fashion International (AFI) Fast Track programme. In association with The Foschini Group, the AFI Fast Track programme develops young designers and nurtures their talent while introducing them to the retail sector.

i-aesthete was this year’s theme. It was designed to get designers to look at their aesthetic, to question their idea or appreciation of beauty. The theme was also a play on the digital age we live in and how we receive and process information, and in turn how this affects our aesthetic eye or I.

Through range which had a style similar to that of rapper MC Hammer, Anderson was expressing the beauty of him being homosexual. “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.

“I had the support of many people, from my family and friends; I am truly blessed to have such support,” he said.

Anderson aims to pursue a BTech in Fashion at DUT next year before heading overseas to gain more experience in major fashions houses.

– Thabo Maile

Pictured: Keegan Anderson (fifth from left) stands beside models spotting his “Prince-s” range which was designed as an expression of his homosexuality.