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Bay student
designers stun Vodacom Durban July fashion judges
Port Elizabeth – Second year fashion design student Tina Ngxokolo was the
toast of the Eastern Cape this week after winning the regional judging of
the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award.
Based on the theme "It's a Blooming Great Day" Ngxokolo was inspired by
the temptation in the garden of Eden, and produced an outfit of
intricately finished straw, delicate melton and feisty leggings that made
a striking impression on the judges.
Overall, the visiting panel of judges was stunned by the
enthusiasm and very high standard of the entry from Port Elizabeth
student designers.
The judges, including iconic designer Terrence Bray and David Tlale,
together regional fashion experts and journalists, reviewed the garments
of nineteen semi-finalists who had won through the initial storyboard
judging process, and were forced to eliminate two because the garments
were not fully completed.
Bray and Tlale spent the afternoon examining the work of the Bay students
in details, giving each of them lengthy feedback on their design and
technical construction, much to the delight of the students who revelled
in the attention of the household names in fashion design.
"We were blown away by the sheer enthusiasm from the Port Elizabeth
students," said Vodacom Durban July fashion programme convener Tiffany
Prior. "We noticed that the quality of the storyboards submitted from the
region was particularly high, and we were thrilled to see that the
garments lived up to our expectations, and in many cases exceeded them."
After carefully scrutinising the seventeen regional finalists, the panel
of judges deadlocked on three garments they all agreed were exceptional,
and a lengthy debate started over which design will go through to the
national finals of the prestigious student competition.
Ngxokolo was eventually crowned the regional champion at a feisty function at
Coco de Mer in the city later in the evening, taking home R2000 from
Vodacom in addition to a place in the national finals in Durban in the
weeks before the big raceday at Greyville Racecourse on Saturday 31 July.
"Her outfit was technically excellent and really well finished, but more
than that it captured the enthusiasm of the day, and the theme," said
judge Terrence Bray.
"There is a truly amazing fashion energy in Port Elizabeth at the moment,"
said Prior. "The standard of the work is really high, and everyone wants
to be part of this competition."
"This competition has uncovered some real gems in the Eastern Cape in the
past," said Prior, in reference to the career-changing involvement of Laz
Yani in the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award last year. He was
spotted by David Tlale during the regional judging of the student
competition, and offered an internship that has jumpstarted his fashion
design career.
"I honestly believe we have uncovered another gem here," Prior added.
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.
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 |
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