18 June 2010

Extraordinary Hat Competition finalists announced 

Durban – Ten lucky fashion designers are buzzing around their studios after hearing the announcement of the finalists in the brand new Vodacom Durban July Extraordinary Hat Competition and will now begin the construction of their hat for this years’ raceday on 31 July.

“It’s a Blooming Great Day” is the theme for this year’s Vodacom Durban July and the inspiration which designers had to explore before settling on their final hat design.

The panel of judges, including Durban designers Terrence Bray and Karen Monk Klijnstra, Monica Holman of Gold Circle and Fashion Programme Director Tiffany Prior, deliberate over the colourful array of storyboard submissions for the new raceday hat competition before settling on ten finalists.

“I’m so excited about this new competition,” said Prior. “Hats and fascinators are such a large part of the fashion element at the Vodacom Durban July.”

There were no two designers storyboards alike as designers made use of their own personal inspiration of this years’ theme. The elaborate storyboards indicated inspiration drawn from botanics, various florals colours and structures ranging from tight decorative caps to embellished fascinators / headbands to steel structures.

“Our ten finalists have managed to sum up the theme fantastically and offer a very varied look at how amazing hats can be,” added Prior.

The finalists include a wide spectrum of young and established designers, many of them regular winners of places in raceday fashion competitions finals, such as Gauteng student designer Laz Yani, 2008 Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award winner and current Fashion Challenge finalist Lara Klawikowski and Avant Garde specialist Mike Wheeler to name a few.

Final judging will take place on 16 July at the Vodacom Durban July Fashion Showcase to be held at Greyville Racecourse. The overall winner will only be announced on raceday and will receive R5000 in cash and a piece of jewellery from the Fresh Flower Collection from Mark Gold Jewels to the value of R25 000, the first runner up will receive R3000 and the second runner up R2000.

The ten finalists are as follows:
Mike Wheeler, Reka Wessels, Rizwana Singh, Lynette Douglas, Lara Klawikowski, Lazola Yani, Gugu Nhlengethwa, Monique Goosen and Elmerane du Plessis who claimed two positions in the finals.

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

Gameplan Media