2017 Durban Designer Mentees on the Programme
The official list of the 18 designers who are participating in the 2017 Durban Fashion Fair mentorship programme who are put through an intense almost 3 month course courtesy of eThekwini Municipality and taught all about the Business of Fashion.
A mini profile of each of the 18 designers is listed below.
The DFF takes place at the ICC commencing August 23!
ATHENKOSI MFUNGULA
Everywhere I go I try to see the world in a fashion kind of way. My style is swag versus class. What I like to do is to combine the two into day/evening wear. The transformation is easy because this brings together formal and casual. Pietermaritzburg born menswear designer, Athenkosi Mfungula, discovered his love for fashion during his high school years when he spent a great deal of his time entering drawing competitions. He graduated from the School of Fashion Design in 2015 and went onto begin developing his own label, LeMFUX. Inspiration for his work comes from his own life experiences. His favourite local designer is Kathrin Kidger and, one day, he looks forward to dressing local celebrity Siyabonga Ngwekazi and international comedy powerhouse, Kevin Hart. His dreams include developing his own brand and clothesline and owning a CMT operation. |
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AYANDA MNGADI
African prints are being embraced both locally and internationally. My
latest work was greatly influenced by this.
Ayanda Mngadi known in the fashion world as Aya was born and raised in
KwaMakhutha. Realising that she wanted a career in fashion from the age of
13, she studied at the Brightness Fashion Design School from which she
graduated in 2016.
Her ladies wear label, CharityNos, is inspired by social events. She
describes her style as experimental, trend-driven and cool.
Her favourite local designer is Khosi Nkosi! Mngadi found Nkosi's style
illustrations spoke to her on a deeper level, which made her fall in love
with her culture and was inspired to make her collection based on African
prints with an European style.
Mngadi would most like to dress celebrities Moozlie and Rihanna, as well as
she follows local fashion blogger, Thithi Nteta.
Within the next five years, she would like to develop and market a full
collection of garments to consumers.
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BONGEKILE SONDEZI
I love all my garments. They are my children. My style of design is
structured and well-tailored with angular lines. My style of dress involves
vintage, hippie and tomboy elements.
Known as Mabongi in the fashion world, Bongekile Sondezi was born in
Ladysmith. She was drawn to fashion at a young age and, after sketching
dresses behind her civil engineering text book, she eventually switched to
studying this full time. She graduated from the Durban University of
Technology in April 2017 and is now establishing and growing her own label,
Autumn Breeze Creations.
Within the next five years, she would like to set up a fabric shop supplying
a range of self-designed textiles and establish a swimwear range.
Sondezi is inspired by music, nature, architecture and by historical events
that involve women in leadership positions.
She does not focus on trends and believes in the importance of developing
ones own design handwriting. She would most like to dress Solange Knowles
internationally and Thandiswa Mazwai locally.
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CASEY RAE HUTCHINSON
I feel like satins are making a comeback - but only bigger and better. They
have not influenced me as yet but I would love to design an evening wear
collection that's pyjama inspired.
Casey Rae Hutchinson grew up on Durbans Bluff. Her passion for building a
career in fashion dates back to 2009. She studied at the Durban University
of Technology and has already begun to build her ladies wear label, Casey
Rae.
Earthy tones, casual classy pieces that are lose fitted distinguish her
particular style and she says she is inspired by architecture, past fashion
trends, people and day-to-day experiences.
Hutchinsons favourite local designer is Zarths Zama Mathe. She follows the
Birdline blog. She would most like to dress Lala from Vuzi entertainment.
She describes herself as kind, bubbly, passionate, easy going and soft.
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CHERYL JAFTA
My style is ever changing; I feel that I cannot peg myself to a certain
style. However, I like to keep it simple, classic, timeless and clean even
though I do tend to follow the trends as they come and go.
Born in Cape Town, Cheryl Jafta relocated to Durban at a very young age and
grew up in Austerville / Wentworth. She studied at the Shersal Academy of
Fashion in Durban, graduating in 1988.
Over the years, her clothing label, Cheryls Creations, has gained some
traction in a market where she is often known as Cheryl the designer. Her
top local designer is JJ Schoeman and she is an avid follower of the African
Fashion House blog.
Celebrities that would top her must dress list are Rihanna and local star,
Lira.
She is drawn to ethnic African design and says she is enjoying the many
different ways that this trend can be implemented in day to day wear. Her
greatest achievement so far has been receiving an award for up-skilling
disadvantaged women from the community. She looks forward to owning her own
successful boutique and continuing to help other young designers to grow.
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CLAUDIA NOVUKA
My inspiration is primarily drawn from what is around me - first nature,
then music and art. These elements trigger certain moods which intern in
the spring board to ones creative mind.
Known in the industry and amongst friends as Kay, Novuka was born in Umtata
and grew up in Kokstad.
She studied at the School of Fashion in Pietermaritzburg under the
leadership of Pricilla Bhika, graduating in 2016. She then relocated to
Durban where she has begun to establish her own label, Emerikay. This
comprises mainly womens wear although she has completed some mens wear
designs at the request of clients.
Her sophisticated chic designs are distinguished by attention to detail
and tailoring. Her top local designers are Bongiwe Walaza, who has
revolutionised the use of traditional shwe-shwe fabric and the vibrant Gert
Johan Coetzee, known for his red carpet showstoppers.
The celebrities she would most like to dress are Pearl Thusi and Beyonce
Knowles. Novuka describes herself as kind, smart, creative, funny and a fast
learner.
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FEZEKA MTSHENGU
Sometimes you look at things you have always known and find new inspiration
from those things. I would say creativity requires one to have an open mind.
Be open to feel and be able to use those feelings to drive you to your best
designs.
Fezeka Pensive Mtshengu known mainly as Fez was born in the Balasi
location in Flagstaff and has relocated to Durban where she is in the throes
of establishing her clothing label Solid Rock Creations with her sister.
Although she specialises in ladies wear, she does produce menswear designs
from time to time. Essentially self -taught and with a short course from the
Silent Sewing Academy to her name, she took the plunge into the world of
fashion in 2016.
She is inspired by a bit of everything. Her favourite local brands are
MaXhosa by Laduma and Zarth by Zama Mathe. The celebrity she would most like
to dress is Jill Scott.
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KHONOKUHLE MTHEMBU
Daily life experiences, earthly things - their looks, textures, smells, the
way they grow - creates a particular picture in my mind and, through my
designs, I am able to bring them to life.
Known as Khonah, the designer behind the House of Okuhle, creates ladies
wear that is cultural, classy, simple and elegant. She hails from Mtubatuba
and started out studying civil engineering at the Mangosuthu University of
Technology before giving in to her passion for fashion and completing her
diploma at the Lindiwe Kuzwayo Academy of Fashion Design in 2014.
Her favourite local designer is Zarths Zama Mathe and eagerly follows local
fashion blogger, Sandy Nene.
The local and international celebrities, she would most like to dress are
Bonang Mathema and Beyonce Giselle Carter. She describes herself as
ambitious, confident, conscientious, hard-working and passionate.
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LEONA MAGDALENE PILLAY
I am the type of designer that can be inspired by anything. For example I
can be sitting in a restaurant and look at a chandelier and get inspired by
the shape, colour and glitz.
Pietermaritzburg born designer, Leona Pillay, is about to register her
brand, Lordes Designer Wear. She recalls sketching clothing at the age of 12
and wanted to see these sketches come alive through studying design at the
School of Fashion and Design from which she graduated in 2016.
She describes herself as emotional, honest and hardworking and admits that
her style has an outrageous spirit that is fun, daring and sexy. At this
point, she designs ladies wear but says she would like to design menswear in
the near future.
Pillays favourite local designer is Gert Johann Coetze. She would like to
dress local celebrity Bonang Mthembo and international celebrity, Nicki
Minaj. Her biggest fashion achievement has been winning the VDJ young
designer award.
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MANDISA LUMKA DLADLA
The 2017 mentorship workshops will help groom me as an established
designer. It will give me exposure, not only locally but potentially
internationally as well. The mentorship programme will allow me to be a
business woman as well.
Patient, hardworking and ambitious, Mandisa Lumka Dladla was born in
Pietermaritzburg and graduated from the Pietermaritzburg School of Fashion
in November 2016.
Her predominantly ladies wear label, DarkRose, is mostly inspired by
architecture and the female physique. She describes her style as versatile
and unpredictable.
Dladlas favourite local designer is David Tlale. Given the opportunity, she
would most like to dress local celebrity, Nomzamo Mbatha, and international
celebrity, Zendaya Coleman.
She says her designs are influenced by latest fashion trends with off
shoulder and denim on denim having impacted her latest collection.
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NDUDUZO MGOBHOZI
I am inspired by anything and everything. Give me a stone and I'll design a
range inspired by it. A lot of women are wanting simple with a touch of
drama and my designs reflect that.
Ladies wear designer, Nduduzo Mgobhozi, grew up in Inanda and studied at the
Durban University of Technology.
Driven, outgoing and focused, he is committed to growing his brand, Maurice
Hozi, into a successful business within the next five years.
His designs are clean, simple, regal and classy and he believes they would
be a perfect fit for the likes of Beyoncé. His favourite local designer is
Zama Mathe who he describes as a breath of fresh air.
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NISHTHI SEWNATH
The latest fashion trend is the jumpsuit. I have incorporated the jumpsuit
trend in my collections and also added a hoodie and fabric manipulations to
enhance these designs.
Nishthi Sewnath, whose ladies wear label bears her own name, was born and
raised in Sea Cow Lake. She graduated from the Durban University of
Technology in 2016.
She won the DUT graduation fashion show in 2016 and will be show casing her
DUT graduation range at this years SA Fashion Week. As a small child, she
found she loved styling and creating fashion sketches. Since then, she has
become a creative, enthusiastic, innovative and self-motivated young
designer and developed a style that is simplistic yet creative with the use
of elastic manipulations.
Sewnaths latest collection was inspired by a close relative who has motor
neuron disease.
Her favourite local designer is David Tlale. She follows local fashion
blogger Crystal Kasper.
She would most like to dress local celebrity, Jeannie D and international
celebrity Lady Gaga.
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NIVADNI SEWNATH
The latest emerging trends are stripes and sleeve slits. I have used these
in my designs an incorporated sleeve slits into my cape designs.
Creative, artistic and eclectic is how ladies wear designer, Nivadni
Sewnath, describes herself.
This ambitious young designer graduated from the Durban University of
Technology in 2016 and went on to win the best range on show at the DUT
fashion show.
She was also a top 25 finalist at the Durban July. Sewnath, who likes to
explore different South African cultures, has a style that is authentic,
casual and simplistic.
She is inspired by local designer, Palesa Mokubung, and follows fashion
blogger, Trevor Stuurman.
She says she would most like to dress local celebrity, Pearl Thusi, and
songstress, Katy Perry.
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NOZIMANGA MBATHA
The creative and the business side of fashion design correlate. One can be
creative but, without a business head, you cannot earn a living or make a
successful career out of fashion design.
Ladies wear designer, Nozimanga Mbatha known as Mangi was born in
Mahikeng (North-West Province) and now lives in Durban. She graduated from
the Lindiwe Kuzwayo Academy of Fashion Design in 2014.
The style associated with her brand, the Balzima Fashion House, is bespoke,
elegant and Afrocentricism, yet modern.
She sees local designer and successful businesswoman, Anel Botha, as a role
model and also follows local fashion blogger Orgella.
She says she would like to dress local celebrity, Lira, who often supports
local designers and international supermodel, Coco Rocha. Mbatha describes
herself as a dreamer, humble, creative, a go-getter and a believer.
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NTOKOZO BUTHELEZI
"I was inspired greatly by the Baroque Era, hence the range I am working on
is going to incorporate a lot of luxurious fabrics with a touch of
futuristic metallic fabrics"
High end, luxurious and confident ladies wear designer, Ntokozo Buthelezi,
has wanted to be a fashion designer since she was a child. Her dream became
a reality when she was accepted at the Durban University of Technology from
where she graduated.
Since then, she has opened her own company and brand, Agape Designs by
Ntokozo, designed her first wedding gown, worked with multiple Matric Dance
girls and joined the 2017 (DFF) Fashion programme.
She describes her style as elegant and comfortable. The local designer she
admires most is Zarths Zama Mathe and she enthusiastically follows fashion
blogger Melody Molale.
She would most like to dress celebrities Jessica Nkosi and Gabriel Union.
After show casing at the Durban Fashion Fair, Buthelezi will move on to
Mercedes Benz fashion week. She also plans to study at Londons St Martin
where she intends majoring in bridal wear and tailoring.
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SINDI MAJOLA
I started making my own African printed pants back in 2005. Back then,
people thought it was too much .I am glad it is now a trend.
Sindi Princess Majola was born in Lamontville and grew up in Kwa Mashu.
Self-taught, Majola started sewing baby clothes from the age of 12 in order
to contribute to the household finances, now, she designs both mens and
ladies wear and is currently inspired by nature. Many of her designs also
appear in her dreams. She says that she uses African material to produce
westernized designs.
Her favourite designer is Thula Sindi and celebrities she would most like to
dress include both Victoria Bekham and Bonang Mathema as she likes their
sense of style and success.
This UNISA student describes herself as self-motivated, observant,
introvert, friendly and sensitive and looks forward to finishing her degree
as well as building a fashion business where she would be able to create
jobs through establishing a CMT operation.
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TESSA VAN RENSBURG
I see my style as very relaxed, and boho. I love using light colours and
flowy soft fabrics. I also design in such a way that my garments are
versatile and can be used even after they've been on the runway - especially
on the beach!
Pietermaritzburg designer, Tessa Rae van Rensburg, graduated from the
Pietermaritzburg School of Fashion in November 2016.
She describes herself as energetic, driven, sociable, genuine and creative
and says that she is looking to build a career that will see her designing
swimwear for her own label or for a major label such as Rip Curl or free to
be.
At present, she focuses on ladies wear. The local designer that she admires
most is Marriane Fassler with her use of bright colours and hippy vibe.
The local celebrity she would most like to dress is Candice Swanepoel and
the international celebrity she would like to see in her designs is Cara
Delevinge.
Her greatest achievement to date has been earning her fashion qualification
and receiving second place fashion designer of the year award.
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WANDA MAJUBANA
The Durban Fashion Fair represents what Durban is all about, promoting,
helping and guiding young creative upcoming designers. The creative side of
fashion has always been important to me as people are more interested in new
fresh ideas.
Menswear designer, Wanda Lindokuhle Majubana, is dramatic, smart, creative,
devoted and humble. Born in Eshowe and now living in Durban, he will
graduate from the Durban University of Technology this year.
He describes the style personified by his label, Maj Designs, as sexy,
sporty, edgy, smart and artistic and says that his work is inspired by art,
animation and music.
The South African designer he looks up to is Gert-Johan Coetzee and he says
he would most like to dress local and international celebrities, Maps
Maponyane and Victor Cruz, respectively.