Hollywoodbets Durban July presents top 10 student designers

TEN of KZN’s brightest young fashionistas remain on course for the most prestigious title in student fashion after a glittering show at the Gateway Theatre of Shopping on Wednesday evening, June 19.

The semi-final showcase for the semi-finalists in the Hollywoodbets Durban July Young Designer Award presented by Durban Fashion Fair ended with 10 student designers being selected to move into the final rounds of judging. The show also featured a show of ready-to-wear garments from prominent retailers in Gateway.

The finalists, from colleges across the province, will now join some of the province’s top designers when they show off their stunning designs at Gateway’s Hollywoodbets Durban July Preview Fashion Show on June 28 and will face a final round of judging at the Hollywoodbets Durban July on July 6.

The semi-finalists, who were selected from almost 100 entrants earlier this month, paraded their race-day designs, inspired by this year’s ‘Ride the Wave’.

Also read: Precious laces up for SPAR Women’s race in Durban

The judges were, once again, faced with a tough choice to select just ten impressive entrants from an array of sensational creativity and workmanship from the semi-finalists.

“I have been judging the Durban July for more than 30 years and the Young Designers, which is a recent addition to the family, really excites me because we are now seeing young, new ideas,” said Greg Wallis, one of the judges who had the unenviable task of cutting the list of semi-finalists down to just 10.

“For me, the most exciting of all is the way they have incorporated the theme and put it down in a storyboard. The technical side of the storyboard is new and exciting, and the way they have incorporated the storyboard and tied it back into the garment … For me this has been very important.”

Joining the judges was Hollywoodbets brand ambassador, former Bafana Bafana captain Teko ‘The General’ Modise, who is no stranger to being in the spotlight and is known for his stylish fashion.

“For me, I think this year is an improvement from last year, which is to be expected. I can see a lot of hard work and creativity that has gone into these designs, and to some degree, there has been a lot of interpretation of the theme. I am inspired every time I come here, ” said Modise.

“I like fashion and I like designers that push themselves. It was tough to choose the top 10, but it should be like that; it should not be easy.

Also read: Local brewers get two awards in African Beer Cup

“There were a couple of other designers who could easily have also made it – but, unfortunately, we had to select just 10, and for those who made it, congratulations to them,” added the two-time South African Footballer of the Year.

The preview show on June 28 is the highlight of the month-long build-up to the fashion extravaganza at the Hollywoodbets Durban July. The student designers will show off their creations alongside the Durban Fashion Fair Rising Stars and the HDJ Invited Designers at Gateway Theatre of Shopping – and then again, in front of thousands of spectators on the race day on July 6, where all the winners of the various fashion competitions will be announced.

The student finalists are vying for a share of R100 000 worth of bursaries from the Hollywood Foundation for the top three students, as well as other valuable prizes from Gold Circle, Schweppes, Gateway Theatre of Shopping and SA Fashion Week.

The 10 finalists and the colleges they represent are:
Fundiswa Bhengu – Esayidi Fashion School
Ndlozi Sineziwe – Pmb School of Fashion
Nduduzo Zwane – Lindiwe Khuzwayo Academy
Nontsikelelo Godlo – Pmb School of Fashion
Olwethu Payi – DUT
Krishan Ramdewu – Pmb School of Fashion
Tamryn Price – Esayidi Fashion School
Avuyile Sihlobo – DUT
Siphesihle Mkhize – Umgungundlovu TVET
Ayanda Zulu – Lindiwe Khuzwayo Academy

For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.