The Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) fashion and tsextiles student Mpilo Sithole is beyond ecstatic upon recently being named as the third prize winner in the Hollywoodbets Durban July Young Designer Award which was announced on Saturday, 5 July 2025.
Speaking of her moment of shine, student designer, Sithole proudly shared: “I am ecstatic, literally over the moon with excitement.”
The Hollywoodbets 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.
Sithole’s unique design was inspired by the theme of “Marvels of Mzansi” which celebrates South Africa’s rich heritage, cultural diversity, and her dress design serves as a memoir celebrating girls and women.
She received a R30 000 bursary from the Hollywood Foundation, R2 000 in cash sponsored by Race Coast and Schweppes and a R1 000 gift card from the Gateway Theatre of Shopping.
Going forward, Sithole’s goal is to educate people through fashion because her ultimate objective is to allow her designs to tell a story.
The second fashion and textiles student Queenton Mjweni proudly reached the top 10 final list in the Hollywoodbets Durban July Young Designer Award.
Mjweni expressed how elated she was with her achievement. “It was indeed the greatest experience, from rehearsals to make-up to dressing up. It was such a blessing experiencing all the behind-the-scenes moments and also being on the screen,” she said.
She received a cash prize of R2 000 from Race Coast and Schweppes.
Sharing her congratulatory message to the students was Ms Nomonde Peter, a Fashion and Textiles lecturer, and a third-year level coordinator at DUT who conveyed that as the Department of Fashion and Textiles, they were absolutely elated and incredibly proud to receive the outstanding news that out of the two students who were in the Top 10, and one of the DUT students had once again claimed a spot at the prestigious Hollywoodbets Durban July Young Designer competition.
“This marks a remarkable achievement, not only for the students themselves but also for our department as a whole. It is a testament to the dedication, creativity, and resilience that our students consistently demonstrate, together with the quality that the entire fashion team strives to nurture throughout their academic journey,” she said.
Ms Peter further emphasised that the calibre of designs presented by DUT students this year was truly exceptional.
“They demonstrated a profound understanding of design principles, conceptual thinking, and technical execution while responding innovatively to the theme, Marvels of Mzansi. Their work held its own against fierce competition from institutions across the province, showcasing not only their talents but also the strength of our curriculum and mentorship. This recognition affirms the hard work of both students and staff, and we are incredibly proud to see our students shine on such a prominent platform,” she said proudly.
Pictured: Third place winner, Mpilo Sithole.
Photography: Graham Daniel/Gameplan Media
Waheeda Peters
