The Durban University of Technology proved, once again, a dominant force within the KwaZulu-Natal fashion arena as many of its Fashion and Textiles students skyrocketed to the final rounds in two separate fashion challenges, held as part of the recent Vodacom Durban July horse racing event.

Casey Jeanne, a Master’s student in the Department of Fashion and Textiles, won the 2013 Vodacom Durban July Fashion Challenge while Danielle De Bruyn, a third-year student in the Department, scooped the 2013 Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award.

The victory was completely unexpected, the pair admitted.

Recalling the defining moment, De Bruyn said, “I was flabbergasted, I still can’t believe I won.” She attributed her success to ambition, saying she doesn’t settle as her goal is to find employment in one of New York’s fashion houses.

After initially struggling to complete her storyboard design, Jeanne said she gave up on entering the competition altogether. She regained interest only a day before the competition’s closing date however, managing to complete everything with ease. Her winning garment, white high-waisted pants and a top, were inspired by a rare flower that blooms only in the moonlight.

The pair each received numerous prizes. Among these, was a Blackberry Q10 and a mentorship course with the KwaZulu-Natal Fashion Council to the value of R40 000 and R30 000 for Jeanne and De Bruyn respectively.

“The exposure young designers get from this competition is invaluable. All the opportunities that have been granted to me are stepping stones towards greatness,” Jeanne said.

Also flying the DUT flag were alumnus Daniel Panton, who won the third prize in the fashion challenge and third-year students Tyla Lyn Gormley and Mbali Memela, who took second and third place respectively in the student competition. This was a true testament of the talent at DUT.

The young designer competition is for undergraduates studying fashion in tertiary institutions around KwaZulu-Natal. The fashion challenge, however, is open to young designers of all levels countrywide.

Entrants in both competitions were tasked with creating avant garde garments under the main theme for the horse racing event, “Posh? Oh my gosh!”. The designers undertook this exercise and interpreted it through vintage and sophisticated designs.

Entering the prestigious student competition is a compulsory element of the DUT Fashion and Textiles Department’s curriculum which contributes to the course mark of its third year class.

The competition started off with 90 candidates. Through an elimination process, judges shortlisted only 30 entrants. DUT took centre stage with 21 of its students making the top 30. From these, eight made it to the ten finalists.

“The students were inspired by this year’s theme. They enjoyed working with their design and sourcing unique fabric, bearing in mind that the quality and finish would have great impact on the final result. Competition among the group was great in terms of embellishment, surface design and making the hat to suit their garment,” said Meena Bagwandin, a lecturer in Fashion and Textiles Department.

Head of Department Sunthra Moodley said the performance of all DUT finalists (in each category) was outstanding. “It is an achievement that they have truly earned; they have made the Department proud,” she said.

Exceptional Race Day Hat or Fascinator

The Vodacom Durban July horse racing event is known for extravagant fashion where attendees come sporting futuristic outfits and hats. There is a special category for the top three hats considered classic, timeless, unforgettable and elegant.

Julia Cronje Ferrandi, a DUT alumnae and part-time lecturer at the University, has won in this category for three consecutive years. This year, she took the second prize, bagging a R3000 cash prize from Gold Circle. In 2011, she took home the first prize and continued on this winning streak in 2012 when she took home the first and second prizes for the two hats she had entered.

She said, “I was happy to be recognised for my hard work. I am a very competitive person so coming in second place is not easy for me but it’ll push me to do better next time.”

– Naledi Hlefane and Mbali Madlala

Pic 1

Pictured: Third-year students in the Department of Fashion and Textiles at DUT who made the top three in the 2013 Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award.

From Left: Model Sellinah Moloi; Mbali Memela (third place), model Chloe Stone; Danielle de Bruyn (first place); model Tyler Moolman and Tyla Lyn Garmley (second place).

Pic 2

Pictured: Top three winners in the 2013 Vodacom Durban July Fashion Challenge.

From left: Model Octavia Khoza; DUT alumnus Daniel Panton (third place); model Charne Leafe; DUT MTech Fashion and Textiles student Casey Jeanne (first place); model Sharall Smith and designer Natasha Jaume (second place).

Photography by Anthony Grote and Gameplan Media.