Seven of DUT’s talented Fashion and Textile student designers have stitched their way to the finals of the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award which took place at the Durban Greyville Racecourse on 13 June 2014.

The Vodacom Durban July 2014 is one of Durban’s most anticipated sporting event on the calender. Besides the sport of horse racing; fashion plays a major role where students compete for the coveted title of Best Young Designer, which is announced on the day of the event.

The Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award, which is the biggest student fashion competition of the country, is a huge platform for emerging designers and a stepping-stone into the flashing lights of South African fashion.

Out of 102 young students that had entered their garments, only 25 young designers were chosen to go through to the semi finals. From the 25 semi-finalists, only 10 went through to the finals. The seven crème de la crème DUT students that have cracked the nod to reach the finals and best encompassing the theme of glamour and elegance at the competition are DUT’s talented students are:

– Talitha Retallick
– Pamela Ndala
– Rebecca Bramuzzo
– Megan Morris
– Blaire Hill
– Racine Denny
– Sadie Bosworth Smith

Sunthra Moodley; Lecturer from DUT’s Department of Fashion and Textiles, said, “The Department of Fashion and Textiles thrives on quality and high standards. All the students have worked extremely hard on their designs and we are extremely proud of the seven finalists. It is an achievement they have earned.”

The different designs ranged from pieces inspired by movies such as The Darjeeling Limited and King Kong, to classic Hollywood ensembles to colourful Bollywood queens.

Terence Bray, Lecturer from DUT’s Department of Fashion and Textiles and previous Young Designer Award judge explained how there were some fresh and original designs among the sea of designs. “The designs that inspire a question behind their creation are always a winner. You have to ask what’s the story behind the dress? And as always, execution is key.”

Bramuzzo had great fun designing her menswear range. “I’m really excited to be in the finals but also surprised as it was really unexpected. My range is inspired by the movie The Darjeeling Limited. I drew inspiration using vibrant colours for the shirt and jumpsuit. I have a peacock designed on the shirt as it symbolises peace and spirituality just like the theme of the movie,” she said.

All-in-all, the fashion students aimed to set high standards in their ranges with meticulous finishes. They were very pleased with the glamourous theme, having fun drawing inspiration from Hollywood and using vibrant, glittering, over-the top materials and accessories such as turbans, feathers and hats; to name but a few.

The 2014 Vodacom Durban July will be staged at the Greyville Racecourse on Saturday, 5 July 2014. The final winner of the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award will be crowned on race day and will receive huge prizes. Each of the ten finalists will also receive R2000 in cash from Gold Circle.

– Waheeda Peters

Pictured: Making DUT proud are: Megan Morris, Sadie Bosworth Smith, Rebecca Bramuzzo, Blaire Hill, Lecturer Meena Bagwandin, Pamela Ndala and Racine Denny.

Also winning through to the finals of the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award are Pamela Ndala with her model Leandri Mulder; Racine Denny with her model Claire Tramontino and Talitha Retallick and model Jessica Young (pictured in the second photo).

Pictures supplied by Dave Macleod/Gameplan Media.