Durban – After winning the Vodacom Young Designer Award in 2014, it has been a rapid rise for Sadie Bosworth-Smith who will be showing her talked-about talent alongside some of her design heroes at the Vodacom Durban July Invited Designer Showcase that premieres on Tuesday, 13 June.

The Durban University of Technology graduate has experienced a surreal ascendancy from student to fully fledged designer and despite the lofty company that she finds herself in, she is looking forward to displaying her designs alongside some of the nation’s finest.

“It is really exciting that I am going to be showing at the Invited Designers Showcase,” Bosworth Smith said.

“When I first took part in the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award and I saw what the Invited Designers produced, I realised that that was where I wanted to be.

“To be able to know tick that off my list is incredibly satisfying,” she said.

Since graduating, she has quickly established her Sadie Bosworth label and has caught the attention of the local design community. After making an impression at major fashion shows, her brand is on the ascendance.

She credits her Young Designer Award win three years ago as a pivotal point in her career.

“It is such a prestigious award to win and when you can associate yourself with that award then people will take you more seriously,” said Bosworth Smith.

“Having won that award it seems that people are very interested to see what I have to produce.

“Being able to go to London and see shows and designs were incredible and helped set the bar where I want to be and set the level of creativity that I want to match,” she added.

Having to display her work alongside the likes of Terrence Bray and Kluk CGDT in the Vodacom Durban July Invited Designer Showcase is exciting but for the young Bosworth Smith, it comes with a sense of in trepidation.

“It’s intimidating to be showing with some of the designers that I have looked up to for years.

“I have been an avid fashion magazine reader since I was young and it is surreal to be showing at the same fashion show as designers that I have admired for years,” she commented.

It has been a constant learning curve for Bosworth Smith but she has set out a number of specific goals for her career and her label.

“Growing my business and getting my bridal range into boutiques as well as continuing to innovate are my long-term aims.

“I have to keep on learning and pushing myself if I want to keep on getting better,” Bosworth Smith explained.

The 2017 Vodacom Durban July takes place at Greyville Racecourse on Saturday 1 July. More information can be found at www.vodacomdurbanjuly.co.za.

Pictured: As a DUT student Sadie Bosworth (right) and her model Dakota Baptist celebrates her victory in the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award in 2014.Anthony Grote/Gameplan Media

Copy: 2017 Vodacom Nick Tatham/Gameplan Media