The Durban Fashion Fair (DFF), celebrating a seven year run ended on a high note last night (Saturday, September 22) with an award ceremony recognizing local and international emerging and established designers. 

The DFF ran alongside the Durban Business Fair who also celebrated their 20th anniversary at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre and the Durban Exhibition Centre. 

Themed Afrofuturism and hosted by much loved radio and television personality Anele Mdoda, the highlight of this four-day fashion extravaganza celebrated the talents of the future and recognised the maestros of the present.  

The most coveted award of the evening - the Durban Designer of the Year 2018 – went to Zama Mathe, head designer of the brand Zarth.  Mathe is a protégé of the DFF and head of a growing and successful business. Founded in 2009, Zarth has evolved into a creative design house employing a fully qualified team of professionals. The fledgling brand made its DFF debut in 2013, earning Zama Mathe an internship to Milan, Italy. She has participated at the DFF every year since then. This is the second year she has clinched the award, having also being chosen as the DFF Designer of the Year title in 2016.  

The Collection of the Week award went to Muzi Innocent Mhlambo who launched his brand, Mita-N Dzyns in 2010. Self-taught and ambitious, he has honed his career and grown his passion for fashion through the DFF.  

This year’s Best Ladieswear Collection 2018 Award went to Diva Designs, Brenda Quin for a stunning collection that perfectly encapsulates her combination of combining boldness with femininity while the Best Menswear Collection went to well-known fashion writer and award winning designer, Chu Suwannapha and his brand Chulaap. Trained in Paris and resident in South Africa for 18 years, Chu was raised in Thailand but boldly celebrates the diversity of Africa through graphic, print oriented designs.  

Deputy Mayor, Councillor Fawzia Peer, who opened the Durban Fashion Fair Recognition Awards, declaring that the entire endeavour was a noble cause. They noted that the eThekwini Municipality had invested approximately R40 million in various fashion development programmes over the past six years which had enabled it to touch the lives of more than 1 800 designers, many of which had gone on to not only showcase their creations internationally but had also built businesses and created jobs.  She noted that fashion had an important part to play in the economic development agenda of the city and said that the DFF was an important foundation for the creation of sustainable businesses in the city of Durban.  

While the theme of Afrofuturism focused on the creation of an African fashion culture, this needed to be moved into the future with patriotism. She urged both the audience and Durban as a whole to do this by supporting local designers and buying their clothes.  “The DFF must be viewed as a symbol of greatness, of what we can achieve when we work together and we are grateful to all of those who have played an active role in making this event such a success,” she said. 

The DFF Recognition Awards not only recognises local excellence, but also commends those who have travelled from across Africa to participate.  Here, the Best African Menswear Collection went to Ghanaian designer, Samuel Quame Owusu and his label Quame Owusu for the second year in a row.

The Best African Ladieswear Collection Award was collected by Nassim Samma from Burundi, who launched Samma Collections in 2015.  

Martin John Steenkamp, whose label Martin John encapsulates androgynous design with menswear pieces that channel into women’s wear took home two prestigious awards - Fashion Innovator Award and the Next Generation Emerging Designer Award.  

The Durban Fashion Legend 2018 which is based on nominations from within the local fashion industry went to Amanda Laird Cherry while the Fashion Business Award went to make up house, Kryolan. 

Switching to new talent, the much anticipated Rising Stars Awards – which pick out the three top performing mentees that participate in a year-long designer mentorship programme in the run up to the DFF – were Cari St Quentin, Zamabhele Ntshangase and the label Black Rose which combines the talents of Khulekani Sithole and Sicelinhlanhla Ngcobo.   

Five years ago, the DFF introduced a model search, providing an opportunity for youngsters from disadvantaged communities to not only get themselves on the DFF ramp but also to begin to build a modelling career.  This year’s DFF New Face of the Year (ladies) was Nandile Mkhize, while the New Face of the Year (men) was Ntando Shandu. 

Well done to all the #DFF 2018 winners…. 

Catch all the fashion action from the #DFF2018 on the facebook page: Durban Fashion Fair or on Twitter / Instagram @Dbnfashion_fair .

For four days from September 19-22, the Durban ICC and surrounds will be transformed into a fashion extravaganza for the seventh annual Durban Fashion Fair with its 2018 theme - “AfroFuturism” - which forms part of the main Durban Business Fair.  

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Durban Business Fair, eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede, is thrilled to have the city hosting over 40 designers, many local fashion talents, invited designers as well as nine creatives from the African continent, who will all be showcasing their creations at the #DFF2018.

Designers showcasing are as follows: 

Sept 19 - 2018 DFF Mentees (18:00); Markham (19:00); Mo’ Creations & Couture (Zambia); Eve-O (Zimbabwe); Modesta (20:00); Palse and Duke – Clothe Your Soul (21:00)  

Sept 20 – Emerging designers are as follows: Cherish by Carita Adams; Whimzical by Black Bear Kouture; Emerikay; Emmanuel Titito; Indoni Fashion House; Martin John; Maurice Hozi; Messrs Basswood; Vyagor Louvre; Thandeka Madikizela; (18:00) Azee Tanzi; Mita-N Dzyns; MorQ Designs by Warren Morck (19:00); Yordi Designs (Ethiopa); Rodrig Couture (Cameroon); Jacqui Emmanuel (20:00); Amanda Laird Cherry/ALC (21:00); Diva Designs by Brenda Quin; Noice (22:00)  

Sept 21 – LT Peculiar Couture (Gaborne); Nivaldo Thierry (Mozambique) (18:00) Samma Collections (Burundi); Clemas Couture (Nigeria); House of Saint Luke (19:00); Eullue and KarenMonkKlijnstra (20:00); Quame Owusu (Ghana) and Chulaap (21:00); Treasure Cindi and Zarth (22:00)  

Sept 22 – Zaviar Fashions; Plus Supreme Collections; Black Pepper (19:00); DFF Fashion Recognition Awards (20:00) 

There’ll be a peek into the nitty gritty ‘business of fashion’ with an interactive panel discussion in the ICC’s Hall 1 on Friday, September 21 between 9.30am and 12 noon.

This will feature leading industry players within the fashion related industry - Sasha Wyatt-Minter (Editor: www.all4women.co.za); Dimeji Alara (Fashion Director: ELLE South Africa); Masana Chikeka (Program Manager: Design at the National Department of Arts and Culture); Nthato Mashishi (Celebrity make-up artist) and Mandy Swart a TFG Buying Manager for Markham.  

The panel discussion topic will focus on “Building a brand in the Fashion Industry” followed by a Q&A session - which will be facilitated by TV & Radio personality, Anele Mdoda. Admission is free for the panel discussion! 

Anele Mdoda will also be hosting the 2018 DFF Recognition Awards on Saturday, September 22.  

This fashion forward evening will recognise the Durban Fashion Legend of the year, the Best Ladies’ Wear Collection, the Best Menswear Collection, the Next Generation/ Emerging Durban Designer of the year, the Fashion Innovator and the Collection of the Week. Three rising stars – our top three 2018 mentees – will also be identified.  

Guests can also look forward to the Fashion Business Award, the DFF New Faces Award, the Best African Designer Collection Award and, last but not least, the Durban Designer of the Year Award. 

Tickets are R100 per person per show with students paying R50 per show (Sept 19/20/21) and for the Recognition Awards (Sept 22), tickets cost R200 per person with students paying R100.

Tickets can be purchased at webtickets.co.za or at your nearest Pick n Pay outlets.  

Follow all the fashion action at our DFF facebook page: Durban Fashion Fair or on Twitter / Instagram @Dbnfashion_fair or #DFF 2018. 

See you at the DFF catwalk!

The revitalisation of Durban’s fashion industry could be the ultimate rags to riches story and the annual Durban Fashion Fair (DFF), which is hosted by the eThekwini Municipality, could play a significant role in providing jobs for the city’s talented youth. 

This year’s event, which takes place between September 19 and 22 at the Durban ICC, will showcase the work of 40 South African designers and nine designers from the rest of the continent.  

While there are some big names and established designers such as Amanda Laird Cherry, Karen Monk Klingstra and Chu Suwannapha included, the largest portion of participating designers are under 35.  

According to Stats SA, the national youth unemployment rate (15 to 34 year-olds) is approximately 40 percent. A large proportion are graduates. Durban has a number of tertiary institutions, many of which teach fashion design.  

In light of this, Honourable Mayor of the eThekwini Municipality, Cllr Zandile Gumede, says she is particularly proud of the mentorship programme which culminates in the DFF.  Each year, a group of young talents are handpicked and mentored in order to make their debut into this extremely tough sector a little easier. Overall, approximately 200 young designers have completed the DFF mentorship programme.  This year, 20 mentees participated.   

The theme for this year’s event Afrofuturism. “We hear about the unfolding fourth industrial revolution and the impact of technology and disruption on companies. But, sometimes, it is also good to start with the basics and inculcate a belief in the future of the African fashion industry in our youth. We may not have many large clothing manufacturers to snap up our new talents but we do have a spirit of entrepreneurship that is alive and well and could create thriving new businesses going forward,” says Gumede.  

An example is Mxolisi Mkhize (House of St Luke) who made an entrance at the DFF 2012. “My Business has grown from strength to strength. I have grown as a business man and I see tremendous growth in revenue,” he says.  In just six years, Mkhize has created jobs for an illustrator, pattern maker, a personal assistant and three cutters and machinists.  

Treasure Cindi, who participated in 2012/2013, shares the benefits with others. “When I joined, I was fresh out of Varsity. The programme exposed me to the real and actual world of fashion and textiles. Through the DFF mentorship programme, the 'TREASURE CINDI' brand is now well known in Durban and around KZN. Every year, I take on one or two fashion interns from the fashion schools in Durban and I mentor them for four to six weeks during their school breaks. That way, I can show them how it really is in the real world and what to expect after graduating.”   

Martin John Steenkamp, who participated in the mentorship programme in 2016, is also spreading his wings. “My label has grown so much. We have better equipment and I have employed someone to assist with the patterns, client consultations as well as production,” he says.  

The DFF was launched in 2012 as part of the Durban Business Fair. It began with just six shows and 12 designers on a single evening and has since grown into a four night, standalone event that culminates in the DFF Recognition Awards which not only commend established players but identify and reward future talents.  Because of the importance of imparting both strong technical and business skills, it comes as no surprise that this year’s DFF now celebrating seven years, will again be running alongside to the Durban Business Fair.  

Gumede explains that the eThekwini Municipality will be celebrating 20 years since the inception of the Durban Business Fair. As a child of the DBF, it seemed fitting that the DFF would support and celebrate it.  “During the day, the combined event will focus on the business programme.

In the evenings, it will focus specifically on fashion. We will have an average of four fashion shows over four days,” she explains.  From the outset, the DFF was created to wow not only the media, fashion buyers and the industry at large but also the general public – and this year is no different.  In fact, it is even more important as the future of the fashion industry in Durban means developing support for locally produced clothing rather than a continued pre-occupation with imported brands.  The DFF provides an important opportunity to re-educate and even convert local consumers and to convince them that local designers have the talent and know-how to develop products that can compete with or even trump imports.  “The DFF is an important tool to show case local talent and show the consumer the ability, the creativity, the quality and the pricing of locally produced garments,”

Greg Wallis, owner of D&G Apparel and heads up this year’s mentorship programme, points out.   Given that there are also indications that local retail chains are also returning to shopping locally, it is important to prepare young talents to seize opportunities.  Wallis attributes the uptick in local manufacture down to a poor rand dollar exchange rate, reduced incentives for exports from the government of China where the majority of imports originate, higher domestic demand in China and long lead times to get orders on to shelves in South Africa.  “We can turn this to our advantage. By transferring skills and training young people, the catch-up can begin,” he says. 

Wallis believes that, even in a flat economy where disposable income is constrained and spending on fashion is low, new comers and existing members of the industry can do well.  They just have to box smarter! 

For more information go to @Dbnfashion_fair or durbanfashionfair.com

Aspiring entrepreneurs and fashion lovers can look forward to an unforgettable pop up fashion experience – including a glam fashion exhibition space, fashion shows and some inspiring business and fashion advice from a top fashion panel – at Bridge City Shopping Centre in KwaMashu from August 17-19, 2018. 

This forms part of Durban’s mega annual fashion event, the Durban Fashion Fair (DFF), who are celebrating their 7th year, which will be running concurrently with the Durban Business Fair who are also celebrating their 20th anniversary, at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre between September 19th – 22nd with shows starting at 18h00. 

The Bridge City fashion panel discussion will be taking place on Saturday, August 18th at 13h00 and will be hosted by popular TV personality and Ukhozi FM presenter, Selby Mkhize- otherwise affectionately  known as ‘Selbeyonce’. Our fashion panellists will focus on “The Business of Fashion & Industry Opportunities” and they include Mita-N Dzyns designer & creator Muzi Mlambo, as well as the founder of ‘Treasure Cindi’ who specialises in wedding and evening gowns.  Ukhozi FM’s entertainment commentator and founder of SA BLOGGERS, Sandile Sandy Nene, will also be on the panel, as well as fashion buyer, Sinqobile Trevor Ntombela, who has over a decade of experience in the retail industry. Our final panellist is Khulile Mavundla Lamula, who is the managing director at Enza Management Services and creative director at Imara Jewellery. 

Business and fashion have always gone hand in hand, so this year’s DFF will run alongside the Durban Business Fair which aims to provide a platform for potential entrepreneurs to showcase their work and market their products whilst networking with big names in business and creating possible business linkages. Included will be a number of empowerment seminars, spearheaded by renowned business people who will share their business expertise with the public and fellow entrepreneurs.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend this exciting event and explore various business activities and you can catch all the latest fashion, when we showcase various designers creations modelled by the class of 2018, our “New Faces” within the fashion pavilion at 14h00 and 16h00 on Saturday & Sunday. 

The Bridge City Indaba is set to commence at 08h00  until 15h00 over the 3 days and is free to attend.   

For further enquiries, visit: www.durbanfashionfair.com  or @DBNBusinessFair & @Dbnfashion_fair