Durban University of Technology Fashion student Safiya Noor Mahomed and lecturer, Terrance Bray stole the spotlight at the Nedbank Cup Football Fan Fashion competition, which was recently held at Johannesburg’s Museum of African Design in Maboneng Precinct.
Mentored by fashion designer Kathrin Kidger, Noor Mahomed emerged as champion in the Best Student category for her Polokwane City FC orange and black sleeveless maxi dress.
The Polokwane-born designer said this was truly a once in a lifetime experience that she will remember for the rest of her life.
“I met all of South Africa’s leading designers and got to see how a professional fashion show is organised and what really goes on behind the scenes,” she said.
On her win Noor Mohamed said: “I feel so grateful and honoured that the judges thought my design was the best. Winning this award just motivates me to try harder and to always do the best I can.”
Bray and student Tamlin Bergoff‘s opulent black and gold creation was singled out as the Grand Design of the evening.
The fit for football royalty garment, sealed Amakhosi’s seemingly unstoppable winning streak both on and off the pitch.
In the explosion of confetti and kaleidoscope of colour Kaizer Chiefs super fan Fefe Sonti basked under the glare of the fashion spotlight when she walked the runway.
Bray said their design was inspired directly by their fans’ spirit and the origins of the Kaizer Chiefs logo.
“We looked at every aspect of the game from the fans perspective, everything from the sound of the crowd to the symbols and collective comradery,” he said.
Since graduating from the University’s Fashion Department in 1995, Bray has established himself as an award-winning designer who is respected locally and abroad.
Princess Charlene Wittstock of Monaco chose him to design her dress for her Royal South African wedding ceremony. He was also asked to design Charlene’s mother’s dress for the Monaco wedding ceremony.
Fashion and Textiles’ Head of Department, Sunthra Moodley congratulated the pair saying: “This was an amazing opportunity for DUT and the Department and it an achievement they have truly earned. They have made us proud and on behalf of the staff and students, we want to congratulate them on their success.”
The one-of-a-kind fashion spectacle started in April when head judges Jenny Andrew, Lerato Tshabalala and Thembalethu Zulu embarked on a campus tour across the country in search of 16 most promising fashion future talent. The students were then paired with leading fashion designers such as David Tlale and Gavin Rajah to mentor them in their creative process.
Each student had to take inspiration from a soccer team, which the designer had picked in a draw, and use that team’s logo, colours and heritage as part of the vision for their ultimate runway-ready garments.
– Andile Dube
