The Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) fashion and textiles student, Mpilo Sithole is still reeling in from sheer joy upon her announcement as one of two DUT students who have walked the ramp and into the Hollywoodbets Durban July Young Designer Award.
Students are competing for the glamourous title award of Best Young Designer, which is announced on the day of the prestigious Hollywoodbets Durban July 2025 , one of Durban’s exciting sporting events on the Durban sports calendar.
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.
Speaking of her moment of shine, student designer, Sithole proudly shared: “I am ecstatic, literally over the moon with excitement. Beyond joyous, if you see the videos taken that day, my grin tells a story.”
She spoke of her overall feeling in the competition which was a mixture of excitement and a bit of anxiety.
“The designs there were incredible, I even told myself that if I was not part of the top 10, it was okay because the garments produced by all student designers were just so great,” she chuckled happily.
What inspired Sithole is the theme of “Marvels of Mzansi” which celebrates South Africa’s rich heritage, cultural diversity, and breath-taking landscapes, paying tribute to the nation’s extraordinary achievements.
“When I sat down and thought about the marvels of Manzi I could not stop thinking about what makes those marvels and it’s the people. I was inspired by the beauty of the black experience. How black women make the most out of any situation. You look at apartheid and I am in awe of how black women were able to make homes out of Ekasi (in the township) and the beauty of weaving to create beautiful baskets and mats. My dress is a memoir celebrating girls and women, I combined pleats that are worn by Zulu girls and a skirt design that is worn by Zulu women. The paints are an homage to the murals we would draw on walls as kids, the woven panels which I made myself are an homage to the baskets and mats. I made it out of canvas and the weaving I did myself,” she explained proudly.
Sithole shared that if she wins she would love to further her knowledge in fashion. Her goal is to obtain an opportunity to educate people through fashion because she always wanted her designs to tell a story and make people feel something, even if it’s an uncomfortable feeling and to have conversations.
“I would also love to acknowledge my classmates who were a big part of this journey to date, they encouraged me when I felt like quitting,” she shared.
Sharing her congratulatory message to Sithole was Ms Nomonde Peter, a Fashion and Textiles lecturer, and a third-year level coordinator at DUT who expressed that Sithole has worked very tirelessly on her cultural background, depicting her design through her beauty of the black experience.
“We are very happy with the outcome and we are hoping that both Mpilo Sithole and Queenton Mjweni make DUT proud and will come out in the top three,” she shared.
The winning designers will be announced at the Hollywoodbets Durban July which takes place on Saturday, 5 July 2025 at the Greyville racecourse.
Pictured: Mpilo Sithole with a model showcasing her design.
Photography: Graham Daniel/Gameplan Media
Waheeda Peters
