28 May 2010

Free state student designers bowl over Vodacom Durban July fashion judges

Bloemfontein – Student designers from the Free State provided the judges of the regional semi-finals of the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award with a massive headache, as the high standard of the entry made the task of identifying two winners extremely difficult.

Fifteen 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  David Tlale and Terrence Bray carefully scrutinised every aspect of their design, its construction, and its translation from the original storyboard design.

The nervous students relished the in-depth analysis of each of the garments entered from the two iconic designers, who often enthusiastically helped adjust the garments to avoid any fashion faux pas.

The judges agonised over their decision, shortlisiting the designers to six, before settling on the two successful students - VICOFS student Pierre Fourie and Central University of technology student Liezl Butler -  whose designs will represent the Free State at the national decider in Durban in mid July. Each of them wins R2000 in cash from Vodacom.

"This has been unbelievably difficult," said Terrence Bray. "The extremely high standard of creative thought, and technical execution made it very difficult for us to settle on two regional winners."

"But the Free state designers have got it," he added, mimicking the famous lyric from The Sound of Music. "They are up-to-speed with the global trends and are not afraid to experiment and follow their own design path. If anything we had to persuade a few of them to take one step back to ensure that a great design doesn't become over-the-top."

"What has been noticeable about the entries from the Free state is the fact that in almost every case, the final execution of the garment was actually better than the storyboard, whereas everywhere else we have been judging it has been the other way around," added David Tlale.

"There is a great buzz around the fashion community in Bloemfontein, which nurtures some genuinely top class talent," said fashion programme convener Tiffany Prior. "I was especially impressed to see some of the really great work coming from the second year students, which bodes very well for the industry in the years to come."

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