Invited designers weave their creative spell
The Vodacom Durban July Invited Designer Showcase left the packed house of fashionistas spellbound.
ONE of the most eagerly anticipated fashion events of the year, the premiere of the Vodacom Durban July Invited Designer Showcase, presented by Durban Fashion Fair, left the packed house of fashionistas spellbound at Greyville Racecourse last week.
Cape Town based icons Malcolm Kluk and Christiaan Gabriel du Toit kicked the Showcase off with a breath-taking range of glittering iridescent fabrics over sequins “That’s the magic of light. Everyone will see a different colour,” they said.
Sibu Msimang followed up with a textured romantic range inspired by the magic mirror, after which Sadie Bosworth Smith, the 2014 Young Designer winner, took her inspiration from classic fairy tale illustrations.
Mxolisi Mkhize, the force behind the brand The House of St Luke, made a dramatic statement in black and white as he delved into the duality of darkness and light.
The Durban duo of Dale McCarthy and Jane Wolff also flirted with black and white magic inspiration, contrasting fragility and structure with a feast of their trademark intricate flower detail.
Hangwani Nengovhela took her brand Rubicon into hot current trends, juxtaposing hard and soft fabrics in her striking trio of garments and Thula Sindi delved into natural colours and textures, and took the red element in the theme into a hue of natural earth tones in silk, satin and tulle inspired by Mother Nature.
Terrence Bray lived up to his reputation for delivering theatre and drama at this showcase event with another take on the contrast, albeit perceived, between black and white magic. He delved into the pagan origins and symbols at the root of magic and explored the commonalities between the light and dark arts.
The 2017 Vodacom Durban July takes place at Greyville Racecourse on Saturday, 1 July. Visit: www.vodacomdurbanjuly.co.za.
