The Nedbank Cup Football Fan Fashion (#FFF) campus tour kicked off at the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture (FADA)’s auditorium with 12 students presenting their best work to a panel of three judges.
“I am very flattered by being selected for this. I am a trend setter and my team has progressed very well. I will wear my design to all my games,” said Ajax Cape Town Football Club supporter, Gladys Gailey who is one of the lucky 16 supporters to have designs created for them.
Eight students were selected by a panel of judges, including renowned fashion designer David Tlale, social columnist Thembalethu Zulu and Desiree Smal, head of Fashion Design at UJ.
“Being able to think out of the box to create something which blends my fashion background with one of the country’s biggest sport is a fantastic challenge,”said Durban designer Kathrin Kidger.
Senior communications manager at Nedbank Nkosinathi Msiza said, “Not only does #FFF recognise the many common threads between the beautiful game and fashion, but it also enables us to make the dreams of emerging design talents a reality by allowing them to be mentored by the country’s fashion masters. And, it gives super fans an opportunity to partner with recognised fashion designers to move football fashion to new heights.”
The eight selected students form part of the final 16, who will collaborate with 16 football super fans and 16 of South Africa’s top designers, who, in turn, mentor the student designers from three fashion schools in designing pieces which draw inspiration from the super fans’ colours and iconography.
Tlale, a renowned designer, said he is excited to work with Bloemfontein Celtic super fan, Botha Mosia.
Tlale won last year for the outfit he did for Alfred Moloi, a Kaizer Chiefs fan.
Celtic spokesperson, Sello Ndona, said this was an exciting thing for the club, taking into account Tlales reputation in the fashion industry.
The tour moves to the Cape Peninsula University of Technology where four students will be selected and the tour will conclude at the Durban University of Technology’s City Campus auditorium where another group of four students will be selected.
