Durban — The Durban Fashion Fair (DFF) was everything expected and more, from the planning, time management from the team to the glitz and glamour.
The DFF was held at the Durban International Convention Centre at the weekend. The event has been running for 11 years, showcasing the talent of designers, supporting them and helping them grow.
Fashion designers showcased their spectacular clothing designs. The youngest designer was 14-year-old Enhle Gebashe, who displayed the clothes she made from scratch, and handbags.
The event was packed with fashion-conscious people from all walks of life. The clothing that evoked people’s emotions the most was Phakamani Gebashe’s line, called The African God Clothing, a Shembe Nazareth Baptist Church-inspired line. The models walked barefoot, with mats in hand, and the clothing they wore was white, echoing that of Nazareth Church members. The church’s hymns were played in the background as the models walked on the runway.
Gebashe said that he wanted to put his culture into fashion and show people its beauty. Gebashe was barefooted the whole time. The manner in which he conducted himself and spoke showed that he holds everyone in high regard.
His clothing was a reflection of himself, with the slogan for his clothing line being “We don’t just dress, we excel” – and that was exactly what the showcasing of his items was like.
Enhle's mother revealed how they spent three days preparing for the show. Enhle is an exceptionally talented urban princess of fashion, who, under the guidance of her “momager”, Desiree Gebashe, is taking the fashion world by storm, designing her own outfits and custom-made African prints.
Gebashe said it had been a stressful time and Enhle had overworked herself to make her display a success. She showcased her children’s clothing line, with classy handbags for children.
Another exhibiting designer was Sizwe Mncube of Libo Creations. His brand focuses on ladies’ wear and is inspired by the strong women around him. His design style focuses on comfort but not at the expense of sophisticated lines and African flair.
This determined go-getter was part of the DFF Mentorship Programme and has since gone on to win multiple awards and dress local stars.
Among attendees were Trevor Ntombela, a facilitator and curator of the Local Fashion Designer Collab Project for Edgars, and artist and Foschini Group senior operations manager Themba Mthethwa.
Daily News