15 June 2010

Klawikowski in full bloom

Durban – With just over a month to go to Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event one of the questions on the side of the track is “Who is going to claim the prestigious Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award?”

In 2008 the competition was won by Capetonian Lara Klawikowski who floored travelling judges at the regional semi-finals and then took home the overall national title. After winning the award the bubbly emerging designer jetted off to London in 2009 to experience part of her prize at Graduate Fashion Week.

“It was extraordinary to be recognised by industry experts for my design ability,” said Klawikowski. “And I got the opportunity to visit one of the most exciting fashion capitals in the world! It’s been a young designers dream!”

Since returning from her trip to London Klawikowski has appeared in various trendy fashion magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Glamour to name a few.

“The trip was more amazing than I ever thought it would be. I saw the most inspiring fashion shows and exhibitions, met some of the most important people in the British fashion industry, attended an informative fashion careers talk with famous designers, such as Mark Eley, and truly experienced a fashion capital at it’s best.”

Klawikowski has gone on to open her own studio and has started supplying various retail hotspots in Gauteng such as The Wardrobe and Cabinet. She has also dressed a few celebrities.

“If one outfit can result in an achievement so great, then the possibilities for design and recognition are infinite,” said Klawikowski.

She also has plans to collaborate with Celine Bakshi, a St Martin Shoe Design graduate, who she met during her trip to London. Bakshi will be designing a range of shoes for her collection in the near future.

This year Klawikowski entered the popular Fashion Challenge competition which is open to all emerging designers and is currently one of the ten finalists in the competition. Fashion followers are eager to view her final product after viewing her storyboard submission to this year’s theme “It’s a Blooming Great Day!”

Many fashion pacesetters are keeping a watchful eye on this young designer and have high hopes for her success in the difficult SA fashion industry, but if her past is anything to go by we’re in for a treat.

The 2009 award went to Durban local Skye Pengelly who has just returned from her trip to London Graduate Fashion Week and has just started on her venture through the industry.

The competition boasts a prize valued at over R70 000 from Vodacom, including an all expenses paid week long trip to the London Graduate Fashion Week as well as valued exposure in the press and a deeper insight into the fashion industry itself.

The college the winning designer attends also walks away with a R30 000 bursary courtesy of Vodacom that can be put towards the tuition of a particular student as well as resources within the college.

The 2010 Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award KZN finalists will be selected on 12 July in Durban and the overall finals will take place at two fancy fashion events held at Greyville Racecourse on 14 and 16 July.

Any questions about the Vodacom Durban July Fashion programme can be directed to the fashion programme director Tiffany Prior on (031) 309 6114 or by email on tiffany@dbn.icemodels.co.za

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

Anthony Grote/
Gameplan Media

Tony Christie /
Gameplan Media