The Community Engagement Office, under the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research Innovation and Engagement (DVC RIE), has been successful in facilitating collaboration between Fashion Design student, Mr Keegan Naidoo and an informal trader’s co-op, S’yaphambili Women Beaders.
Mr Naidoo was one of the winners of the Community Engagement Showcasing and Pitching Award for his Marigold Project. Naidoo is currently working on launching his first high-end clothing line, labelled the Marigold. The launch is scheduled to take place on Friday, 13 May 2022.
The month of May was chosen to launch this clothing line to honour the women crafters who have designed the accessory pieces for the collection and recognise their roles as mothers and celebrate the beautiful products beaded products that they have produced.
On the 6th of April 2022, the Community Engagement Office, Naidoo, and the S’yaphambili Beaders, with three models embarked on a photo shoot at the Vega School Durban.
Speaking to the Community Engagement Office, Naidoo said, “It is so exciting to see everything come together. The garments needed the accessories and of course, the models to come alive. Everything is just brilliant. I want people to keep a lookout for what’s in store!”
Thereafter the team moved to a new location, at the Amphitheatre at Durban’s North Beach. The overcast weather turned out to be just the perfect setting for the rich yellows and golds of the Marigold flower, set off by the deep greens of the garments and beads.
Community Engagement Practitioner, Phumzile Xulu, was enthralled by the beauty of the garments and accessories, saying that seeing the project come to fruition had been amazing.
Xulu says, “While we all knew that this project would be a success it’s been so amazing seeing everything fall into place, we are grateful that we have been able to facilitate a collaboration that not only showcases the work of a DUT student but also allows the informal traders to see their work in a new light. This just goes shows that we truly are an engaged university. We hope that this project will positively impact the livelihoods of the informal traders as it opens new market opportunities for them and that of our students.”
Pictured: A behind the scenes moment during the photo shoot at the Vega School Durban.
Khumbuzile Mbuqe
