Students wow judges at july designer award judging
Pietermaritzburg School of Fashion scooped the lion's share of the places in the semi-finals.
A TOTAL of 143 completed outfits from student designers representing seven different design colleges and technikons gave judges at the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award, presented by Durban Fashion Fair, a real headache as they battled into the night to reduce the entry to 25 semi-finalists.
Pietermaritzburg School of Fashion scooped the lion’s share of the places in the semi-finals, as the city’s thriving design college, mastered by Martin Steenkamp, continued to grow as a force in this prestigious competition.
The panel of judges, which included Durban design stalwarts Greg Wallace, Sindi Shangase and Kathrin Kidger, felt that the African-rooted theme had sparked an enthusiasm in the students that had never been seen before.
Programme director Tiffany Prior said: “We have never ever seen the level of excellence in the interpretation of the theme. The depth and exploration in the individual interpretations of the theme was simply staggering. The end result was an entry that was totally vibrant and inspiring, and it made the judges job very difficult this year.”
The semi finalists in the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award are Nontokozo Mpangase, Nandi Gwala, Sibuyiselwa Sithole, Mamello Putsoane, Nosipho Ngcobo, Noxolo Ngabane, Nonjabulo Mfuphi, Nelile Mzobe, Ayanda Ndlovu, Esme Tibinyane, Mthobisi Hlongwane, Thandeka Radebe, Siyabonga Phakathi (all Pietermaritzburg School of Fashion), Fumane Moshesh, Tanyaradzwa Tirivanhu, Wandile Mbhele, Slungile Dlamini, Siphiwo Buthelezi, Nomasonto Nkosi (all DUT), Nompumelelo Mjadu, Makhosazane Ntshangase, Nonsikelelo Mbeje, Lushaba Sipho, Bongekile Funeka, Thobile Dlamini (all Lindiwe Khuzwayo Academy of Fashion Design).
The Vodacom Durban July is at Greyville Racecourse on Saturday, 6 July. Visit: www.vodacomdurbanjuly.co.za.
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