From a South African flag-inspired beaded dress to colourful patchwork creations, denim statements and garments threaded with rope, 25 aspiring fashion designers’ diverse interpretations were whittled down to the 10 finalists for this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July Young Designer Award.
The prestigious Hollywoodbets Durban July Young Designer Award is a pre-race day fashion competition open to fashion students studying with accredited colleges, technikons or universities in KwaZulu-Natal.
The Durban University of Technology (DUT) fashion and Textiles students are Mlungisi Ndlovu and Thato Selekane who have stitched their way to the top 10 finalist list, aiming to shine as winners on race day.
Held at Durban’s Greyville Racecourse on Saturday against the vibrant backdrop of the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, the semi-final judging once again blended the worlds of fashion and the ‘Country Allure’ theme, together with horse racing to create the perfect backdrop for South Africa’s emerging design talent to shine.
Hollywoodbets Durban July Invited Designer and accomplished fashion designer in her own right, judge Sibu Msimang said selecting the final top 10 from the 25 semi-finalists proved exceptionally challenging due to the outstanding standard of work presented.
“I was incredibly impressed by the designers, some of whom had very interesting and unique interpretations of the theme. We saw exceptional garments and I was particularly impressed by how they translated their concepts and storyboards into finished creations. Very well done to both the students and their lecturers,” said Msimang.
Young Designer judge and Durban Fashion Fair programme manager for eThekwini municipality, Nonhlanhla Khumalo, reminded participants that progressing from the top 25 to the top 10 forms part of a much bigger journey within the fashion industry.
“The level of work that the designers have put into their creations is truly amazing. Some explored cowhide, others incorporated African-inspired tassels, and the combination of influences came together beautifully. As judges, it certainly made our job difficult, but in the best possible way. To those who did not make it through, well done on what you achieved,” she said.
Fellow judge and established designer Kathrin Kidger echoed those sentiments.
“I was surprised by the quality of the work and the designers’ understanding of this year’s sub-themes. The hardest lesson for those who did not progress is understanding that this is part of the journey. While winning is important, every round provides an opportunity to affirm your brand, refine your identity and grow as a designer,” she said.
The winner will be announced at the end of a fashion show to be held at the Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on Saturday, 04 July 2026.
Pictured: DUT’s Mlungisi Ndlovu’s garment is modelled by Sinegugu Mabizela and Thato Selekane’s outfit is modelled by Sinejabulo Magubane.
Photography: Hollywoodbets Durban July
Source: https://www.hollywoodbetsdurbanjuly.co.za/young-designer-category-concept/Waheeda Peters
