14 July 2010

Invited designer floral showcase thrills Durban audience

Durban - A bouquet assortment of design creations had the packed audience attending the first showing of the Vodacom Durban July Fashion Experience in awe as the elite line up of eight national designers showcased their collection at Greyville Racecourse.

With this year's theme "It's a Blooming Great Day" brought polar differences in the interpretations presented by the eight iconic designers combining concise design, in-trend structure and budding detail leaving guests cheering for more.

Gauteng designer David Tlale spent three weeks conceptualising the direction he wanted to take his collection which epitomised African nature. "I started to immediately think of butterflies and beautiful African forests," said Tlale. Tlale chose an earthy rust as the base colour for his raceday ensemble, which was constructed into a long slim dress and fitted menswear, detailed with covered buttons and rope-like tassels in various patterns drawn from tulips stems and butterfly antenna.

The Cape duo of Malcolm Kluk and Christian Gabrielle du Toit of Kluk CGDT brought a wearable dark vintage play on the theme throughout their range. "We went into the bloomers and all things vintage and whimsical," said Kluk. "We wanted the range to be very "Twilighty", you have to push the boundaries," he added. The pair selected dark floral fabrics and updated classics, such as their menswear suit decked with feather and lace details around the neckline.

Francois Vedemme never ceases to amaze onlookers with his intricate detail in each of his inspiring creations. The Durban designers fully white range included various technically cut floral patterns reminiscent of origami or personally created lace. Vedemme added in trend detail to the hips and shoulder area in his designs, as well as attaching feathered like leaves loosely floating off one of is designs appearing to be a worthwhile and time consuming finishing touch.

Paledi Segapo and Reginald Molamu of RjKay Creations presented a flirty range in sunset colours, including a sunshine yellow silk layered showstopper. The Durban pair included two lavish designs with similar swirling details similar to that seen with a blooming flower, as well as an example of menswear incorporating a yellow shirt and tailored pants finished off with a rust military jacket with a gold chain shoulder detail.

"My range is exotic, romantic and timeless," said Durban designer Lindiwe Khuzwayo. Her raceday ensemble included a antique pink sparkling suit which strutted alongside a pink and green highly detailed floor-length dress incorporating a floral fascinator. Khuzwayo's black and cream floral print halter dress topped with accompanied with a voluptuous hat was nothing less than a crowd pleaser.

"Blooms are a token of love and affection," said Leigh Schubert. "And blooms have may layers as do relationships, which is how I translated the theme into my range." Schubert's collection included a mini-dress constructed out of vertical strips of black, cream and many shade of purple fabric meticulously sewn together, as well as a cream showstopper with strong ribbon like features.

A Victorian tea garden is what came to mind when Gauteng based Abigail Betz presenter her range. The three piece collection formed part of Betz Summer range she launched this year. "I was initially triggered by the colour blue in Alice in Wonderland," said Betz. The soft feminine pastel colours of lilac, mint and soft pink in her collection, as well as her choice of princess-like fabrics of tuil and lace left nothing more to be desired.

Legendary tailor Mike Narainsamy's "forbidden fruit" take on the theme made use of rich gold, red and green in his raceday ensemble. "In the garden of Eden the apple represents sex and with that comes passion," said Narainsamy. Along with this the Durban designer included both lace cheeky hot pants and satin lace-up details both indicating the female form leaving something to be desired.

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
 

Anthony Grote / Gameplan Media
 

Anthony Grote / Gameplan Media
 

Anthony Grote / Gameplan Media
 

Anthony Grote / Gameplan Media
 

Anthony Grote / Gameplan Media
 

Anthony Grote / Gameplan Media
 

Anthony Grote / Gameplan Media