A VIBRANT awards ceremony at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre hosted by Miss South Africa, Zozibini Tunzi and radio and television personality, Selby Mkhize, brought the 2019 Durban Fashion Fair (#DFF2019) to a close on Saturday, 28 September.
The event was officially opened by chairman of the eThekwini Municipality’s Economic Development and Planning committee, Councillor Sipho Kaunda, who noted that, during the lifetime of the DFF, the municipality had invested over R40 million in rejuvenating and supporting the fashion industry in the city and had facilitated the entrance of around 1 800 new fashion designers.
The red carpet event, which was attended by local celebrities as well as leaders within local government and the fashion industry, was the culmination of a four-day long joint celebration of fashion and business.
The most eagerly anticipated award of the evening – the Durban Designer of the Year 2019 – went to Zama Gumede, a self-taught designer from Umlazi in Durban, who worked for three years as a seamstress just to put food on the table before following her dream and launching her own fashion line, Zaviar Fashions.
The Collection of the Week award went to Quiteria which is owned by designer Lebogang Quieteria Kekana. The exuberant and colourful showing on the DFF ramp on Friday evening echoed his work dressing both local and international celebrities and showcasing his work across the globe.
This year’s Best Ladies Wear Collection 2019 Award went to Durban based designer and fashion stylist, Kwenzi Nkomo, who heads up Indoni Fashion House. She made her debut at the DFF in 2014 with Afro inspired designs that have a contemporary feel. She, too, has showcased her work around the world.
Athenkosi Mfungula and his brand, LeMFUX, accepted the closely contested Best Menswear Collection.
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The Durban Fashion Legend 2019, which is based on nominations from within the local fashion industry and reflects a selfless contribution to building the future of the Durban fashion industry, went to Greg Wallis of D&G Apparel who has been instrumental in the success of the DFF’s long standing mentorship programme.
The Fashion Business Award went to Fabric and Bridal, a family business that has been a leader in retail fashion textiles for over 40 years.
The much anticipated Rising Stars Awards – which pick out the three top performing mentees that participate in a year-long designer mentorship programme in the run up to the DFF – were Bongie Funeka, Makhosazane Ntshangase and Sizwe Mncube.
The Next Generation Emerging Designer Award, which recognises progress made by a newcomer from the previous year, went to Kazadi Wilson Mukeya and the smart and classic creations that are synonymous with his label VFK (Victor Fashion Kingdom).
The Fashion Innovator Award went to Zimbabwean designer, Yvette Margaux Ndaba from Eve-O Designs. She also collected the Best Female designer – African Designer Category Award, which recognises designers from across the African continent who are invited to showcase their work at the DFF.
The award in the Best Male Designer – African Designer Category went to Tanzanian designer, Martin Kadinda (MK).
The 2019 DFF New Face of the Year (ladies) was Umlazi resident, Thandeka Phakathi, while the New Face of the Year (men) was Austin Mbuyisa from Reservoir Hills.
Marking the evolution of a uniquely African brand of fashion, the DFF this year extended its model search to include Plus Sized Models with the Plus Sized Model of the Year going to Anneline Nagan who hails from Phoenix.
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