The Durban University of Technology (DUT) Fashion and Textiles Department hosted its annual fashion showcase featuring the works of 29 third year students.
Since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the much-loved fashion show has been taking place in a different form than usual. 2022’s offering was no different, instead of models walking the runway, the students’ work which interpreted the theme, was showcased in a form of 29 films that were screened alongside an exhibition at the Brickfield Campus.
As per usual, the showcase culminated in the announcement of winners in five different categories; Best Range on Show which went to Thabiso Ncanana while Bianca Govender won Most Innovative Range; Nokuzola Mkhize’s collection won her the Most Commercial Range; while Julia Whitby won Best Technical Range and Ntsoaki Lesenyeho received a Special Recognition Award. Fashion and Textiles student, Thembelihle Zuma was awarded a three-week internship with fashion house, Manock Naturals.
The 2022 competition element of the showcase was judged by experts in the fashion industry including style-guru, Brendan Sturrock, and DUT Fashion alumnus Sipho Mbuto and alumni Fikile Sokhulu. The awards were sponsored by FP&M SETA, Berzack Bros (Pty) Ltd, Amanda Laird Cherry, MC Thompson, Manock Naturals and JMV Textiles.
Pictured: 2022 DUT Fashion Showcase Most Commercial Range by Nokuzola Mkhize. The range titled, “Dawn of a New Day” explores the sunrise as a place of new beginnings. (Image supplied).
Commenting on his win, Ncanana said he feels humbled to have won the award for the Best Range.
“I was totally caught by surprise, especially given the paramount quality of work produced by other students for their range. Everyone dedicatedly gave their best to their work. I created something I felt was honest, real to me and resonated a lot with my culture and identity. My future plans are to seize every opportunity for growth, refining my craft and to prioritize design intellect.”
The 25-year-old from Esikhawini said his range was inspired by the Durban Victoria Market setting. He explained: “Given the Market setting is empty at night and spontaneously filled in the daytime, I felt it was fitting for the theme Void. The designs were then signifiers of the elements and values associated with the Market setting such as heritage sensibility, culture, making new products out of recycled material, the buzz and colour of the place also came to play as well. From using recycled plastic bags called uMhlabungehlule, incorporating the Zulu traditional skirt into a look and utilising cultural print motifs and tie-dye, the range collectively outlines African market symbolism.”
Most Commercial Range winner, Nokuzola Mkhize who hails from Adams Mission- a town situated South of Durban was so excited for winning this specific category since her goal is to specialise in commercial collections in the future.
“My collection was inspired by the beautiful sunrise and the blend of colours it brings. For me, the sunrise is a place where we all belong, a place of newness, a new beginning, a new dawn,” she said.
Pictured: 2022 DUT Fashion Showcase Most Innovation Range by Bianca Govender. (Image supplied).
The 28-year-old managed to create five garments which she commented was not that easy to make. She had to improve her time management and multi-tasking skills. All her garments were specially tie-dyed, working with dyes for the first time she said was fun but very challenging. Her greatest desire is to build a proudly South African commercial brand, and to give back all the knowledge she has gained as a designer through working with incubators or mentorship programmes for first years or aspiring designers.
KwaMashu’s Thembelihle Zuma who received a three-week internship with Manock Naturals said she was shocked at her win.
“I have been manifesting for an internship so I am very happy, and very grateful that my lectures and the Manock team saw great potential in me. I would like to work as a pattern maker or visual merchandiser or just at any store at the Manock Naturals Company,” she stressed. Through her designs, Zuma’s work touches on women’s sexual liberation as she wanted to show how powerful clothes are, and to teach people that being sexual is not a shame, and that one must not judge women for being sexual.
“We women use power dressing to express and evoke emotions, how we wear less clothing doesn’t shout ‘we want sex’ so we must not be judged or labelled badly for it,” she added.
The Most Innovative Range winner, Bianca Govender said she was honoured, grateful and proud of herself for this achievement. Govender’s range titled, “Are we meant to be happy?” examined the human emotion drawing and featured hand developed print details and embroidery.
To watch all 29 films from the 2022 DUT Fashion Showcase, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hgj_x6f6n-k
Pictured: 2022 DUT Fashion Showcase Best Range on Show by Thabiso Ncanana. His range titled, “eMarket” is grounded in the culture, diversity and identity of local markets – crafted from recycled material. (Image supplied.)
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