The Durban University of Technology hosted the second annual Digital festival at City Campus 11 to 12 September 2015.
The festival is an initiative by the Faculty of Arts & Design. Through the festival, the faculty showcases its departmental creativity through the work of the students. The work displayed and exhibited was from the department of Jewellery design, Interior design, Fashion & Textile, Graphic design and Art for humanity. This year’s theme was: My/Your/Our Story.
On 11 September 2015, fashion lovers were treated to a fashion show which had the hall packed to capacity. Every year, the department of Fashion & Textile hosts a successful fashion show on the evening of the first day of the Digifest. This year, 2015, the fashion show was a real mix of the work by first years right up to third year students. Encouraging unity amongst departments, the students also worked together with jewellery design students. The students showcased 15 bodice and jeans ranges along with 15 stunning outfits which were showcased at the Vodacom Durban July. This year the fashion show also introduced the 20 Rise of the OXX outfits and 15 little black dresses.
According to Helen Smith, a lecturer at the Department of Fashion & Textile, students worked in groups to create a range based on the brief that they were given on the Rise of the OXX.
Fashion & Textile student and designer, Swazi Dlamini, said, “This was really a group effort, however because we were also encouraged to showcase what we have learnt, I designed shorts for the men’s range,” she said.
Further adding to the group effort, Zeenat Adams, a student from Jewellery design, said she enjoyed working with the team from Fashion & Textile and was pleased to hear compliments of her beaded bracelet from the audience. “This has been a great experience, especially since I am a first year student; I have never thought I would hear people speaking highly of my jewellery design. My design was inspired by a concept of bombardment,” she added.
The audience also had nothing but compliments for the work done by the students. Heather Farah, a fashionista from Pietermaritzburg, said she was fascinated by the DigiFest as a whole. “I toured around the City Campus looking at the work done by students; I must admit it is truly amazing how lecturers and the festival encourage young minds to explore their own feelings and emotion. I enjoyed the Pecha Kucha; it was truly fantastic to see personal expressions through drawings. This is really an inspirational and the fashion show did not disappoint like always,” said Farah.
Pictured: Dr Rene Smith, Faculty of Arts & Design Acting Executive Dean with Dr Martin Mandew, Institutional Support, at the Digifest.

Zethembe Sotobe and Noxolo Memela