The Faculty of Arts and Design’s Fashion and Textiles department is once again making notable strides in the country’s fashion industry.
Six students, Alexander James Cox, Carla Ann Gerstmeier, Geina Mongezi, Kimosha Ganas, Simphiwe Ximba and Tracy Mwelase from the department have stitched their way into the final stage of the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award.
The six young designers will be vying for the ultimate top prize of the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award, presented by the Durban Fashion Fair, which will be announced during the highly anticipated Vodacom Durban July race day.
The Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award is a huge platform for emerging designers and a stepping-stone into the South African fashion industry.
The budding designers showcased their stunning range following this year’s theme, The Captain’s Table.
DUT’s Alexander Cox said his design is based on water mythology and water sea legends. “I hand-drew my design and printed it out which was a long process, but I’m so happy to have been chosen for my hard work which paid off,” he said.
Another jubilant DUT finalist Kimosha Ganas was over the moon to be in the finals. Her design, which she called “Vintage Vacation”, looked at luxury cruise designs from the 1920s which is where she drew her inspiration from. “I also have an underlying theme of nautical. In terms of the headpiece, I basically used a palm sheet which I cut and pasted. What also inspired me was the upholstery fabric I used in the bodice which reminded me of furniture you see on cruise liners. That fabric kind of inspired the whole design and from there, it just took a life of its own” she said.
On 17 June 2015, FAD fashion lecturer, Terrence Bray was part of the eight Vodacom Durban July Invited Designers who showcased their range at the Greyville Racecourse.
Bray created a powerful piece of art and social commentary with his golden African princess, tapping into the anti-colonist feeling he believes South Africa is currently experiencing.
“I researched the whole concept of captaining, authority and slavery and found a J.M.W Turner painting called “The Slave Ship”. The colours are vibrant and fiery with sunset tones and there’s an aggression about it that I just love. It’s quite ironic how something beautiful can be created out of something negative,” Bray said.
– Andile Dube