26 May 2010

Cape student designers wow Vodacom Durban July fashion judges

Cape Town – Three talented Cape fashion design students won their way into the national finals of the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award, hoping to emulate the feat of Cape designer Lara Klawikowski who became the first Western Cape design student to win this prestigious national competition.

Twenty regional finalists, who designed unique outfits based on the theme "Its a Blooming Great Day" held their breath as the high powered panel of judges including stellar designers Malcolm Kluk, Christiaan Gabriel du Toit, David Tlale and Terrence Bray carefully scrutinised every aspect of their design, its construction, and its translation from the original storyboard design.

The judges agonised over their decision, shortlisiting the designers to six, before settling on the three students - Jessica Newton (Design Academy of Fashion), Chantel Marais (Cape Town College of Fashion Design) and  Kerry Anne Heeger (Cape Town College of Fashion Design) -  whose designs will represent the Western Cape at the national decider in Durban in mid July.

"I was genuinely very pleasantly surprised by what we saw today," said Malcolm Kluk. "I normally hate student fashion, but I was pleased with the high quality of the design and finishing, The students have clearly set themselves a standard for this competition, which is really encouraging."

"It is great to see the direction that the student fashion is moving in," said David Tlale. "There is a clear thought process in the design, and the concepts are not simply outrageous. It is also exciting to see that the students are paying attention to what is happening globally, and are not afraid to move forward."

"This competition continually amazes me." said Terrence Bray. "There is a great deal of creative thought, and some really excellent detail and construction of the finished garments. And most of what we saw in the regional finals was very fashion forward."

The overall winner of the competition will receive a R10 000 cash prize from Vodacom and a trip to the 2011 London Graduate Fashion Week, as well as a piece of jewelry from Mark Gold Jewels worth R30 000 .

The college or university that the winner is enrolled at will win a R30 000 bursary from Vodacom that can be used for bursaries for deserving students or the purchase of equipment to assist the fashion design students.

The Vodacom Durban July takes place at Greyville Racecourse on Saturday, 31 July 2010. More information can be found at www.vodacomdurbanjuly.co.za 

2010 Vodacom Durban July theme

"IT’S A BLOOMING GREAT DAY"

Plant a seed of good fortune,
In the garden of your mind.
Gather design, reap style,
Till it’s one of a kind.

Take a chance on wild,
Exotic if you must.
The flowers of our land,
Sub-tropical or dust.

A mixed bouquet,
In the early light of day.
Or maybe one brilliant bud,
Standing proud is the way.

Indigenous is ingenious,
A good bet to be seen.
Recycling’s one way,
Another is ‘think green’.

In a garden of colour,
One contest stands high.
A blooming great race,
The Vodacom Durban July.

The Vodacom Durban July
Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event

Dave Macleod/
Gameplan Media

Dave Macleod/
Gameplan Media

Dave Macleod/
Gameplan Media

Dave Macleod/
Gameplan Media

Dave Macleod/
Gameplan Media