26 April 2010

Free State semi-finalists named in Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award

Free State - The Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award continued its unprecedented growth with an entry that exceeded all expectations in terms of quantity and quality. Record entries were received from most of the regions with key areas such as the Eastern Cape raising the technical and creative bar of the competition.

The record entry of storyboards received from students from design technikons, colleges and universities across the Free State region has stunned judges with their varied interpretations of this year's theme "It's a Blooming Great Day!"

"Sadly, the number of entries from Bloemfontein dropped this year and therefore we selected fewer semi finalists," said Fashion Programme Director, Tiffany Prior. "Our thinking was to select only students who we felt had a very definite chance of becoming a finalist.

"I always look forward to travelling to this region, as I find that design students here pay enormous attention to fit, detail and finish of their garments and I’m always impressed by the standard and quality of the finished work."

The students’ interpretations of the theme varied from one to another drawing inspiration from aspects of the "green" recycling movement; colours, layers and textures of floral or natural elements and very clever use of organic earthy elements such as cotton, leaves and feathers.

The esteemed panel of judges, which included the director of SA Fashion Week Lucilla Booyzen, top Durban designers Terrence Bray and Nirma Madhoo-Chipps along with Tiffany Prior, Terrence Pillay and Gold Circle's Monica Holman, shortlisted the semi-finalists from the huge submission of storyboards entered in each of the five regions competing in this year’s competition.

"I'm completely amazed by the design talent coming out of our country, especially what we have seen from Port Elizabeth," said Booyzen. "It's exciting and inspiring!"

"There was great quality work from this region," said Bray. "Well crafted designs with unique and original fabrication and construction."

Last years' overall winner Skye Pengelly recalls her memories of winning the 2009 Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award. "This award gave me the confidence boost that I needed as a designer as it gave me national exposure and the opportunity to measure myself up against all the up and coming designers in the country," said Pengelly.

"As we all know exposure is a massive part of how we measure success as designers and this award puts your name and design aesthetic into the mind of South Africans," she added.

Each student is required to design a race day ensemble that is stylish, fashionable and encompasses the spirit of one of South Africa’s most prestigious events – the Vodacom Durban July. “The standard of work gets higher each year and I really expect our final ten to clearly showcase South Africa's future design talent,” said Prior.

The finalists will be selected from the regional finals in Bloemfontein on May 27 and will go on to compete in the national finals in Durban on 14 and 16 July at Greyville Racecourse.

The winner will be announced on the day of the Vodacom Durban July in Durban on 31 July, and will win a prize including a five day trip to London to attend the 2011 Graduate Fashion Week, R10 000 in cash from Vodacom as well as additional prizes still under consideration.

The college that represents the winner will receive a R30 000.00 bursary from Vodacom which will be used as a bursary for a deserving student and the balance being used to develop resources within the college.

The 114th running of the Vodacom Durban July takes place at Greyville Racecourse on Saturday 31 July. More information can be found at www.vodacomdurbanjuly.co.za
ENDS

The semi-finalists from Free State are:

Katlego Mokhahlane, Pierre Fourie, Janie Koetzee, Danielle Nortier, Réka Wessels, Divan Schutte, Elissa Krügel, Sunique Visser, Claire Brink, Elmerane du Plessis, Jeanie Lamprecht, Johanna Richter, Liezl Butler, Precious Letloele and Jaynie Potgieter.

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

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