Show puts designers on fashion map
Annual event showcases talent
SCORES of fashion lovers descended upon KwaBhaca (formerly Mt Frere) this weekend to attend the 4th annual Umzimvubu Fashion Show.
Run by the Umzimvubu local municipality, the annual show aims to develop its emerging creatives economically by exposing them to bigger fashion stages locally and around the country.
The past weekend’s show attracted about 30 fashion designers from KwaBhaca, Mthatha and KwaZuluNatal. The young designers showcased their designs, mesmerising to the eye but painful to the pocket.
Umzimvubu mayor Bulelwa Mabengu said that the ramp show was also to promote “love for local fashion”.
“Fashion is a state of mind, a spirit and an extension of one’s self. Despite our rural nature, as the municipality we are exposed to world fashion and we dress like any other person in other places of the world,” she said.
Mabengu and Umzimvubu’s local economic development director Shirley Batyi said that this year the municipality had invested more than R200 000 and most of the money was for prizes given to the designers
Winning designers received cash prizes ranging from R10 000 to R20 000. The winners will also get a chance to be exposed to national and international fashion platforms.
They also got all-expenses paid trips to the Macufe Festival in Bloemfontein and South Africa’s Tourism Indaba in Durban, where they will interact with big names in the industry. Some will attend mentorship programmes to improve their fashion designing and will also showcase their products at the Royal Show in Pietermaritzburg.
“The fashion show is also about creating quality job opportunities among our youth as South Africa is faced with alarming numbers of unemployment. This will boost entrepreneurship and business opportunities. Umzimvubu prides itself on stars in the film industry and now we have to develop our own worldrecognised fashion designers,” Mabengu said.
Batyi emphasised the importance of grooming local talent and appreciating the efforts and initiatives of local designers as it was encouraging local designers to further develop themselves and “be encouraged to showcase in national platforms”.
In an effort to assist and develop local talent, models are sourced locally and a fashion industry expert is then appointed to train them.
The event, which has grown dramatically, this year saw the municipality partnering with the Daily Dispatch and the Bhisho-based SABC radio station TruFM.
Lungile Nkuhlu of LA Creations won the best overall designer award for the second year in a row.
Nkuhlu said her wish was for other municipalities to emulate Umzimvubu and promote talent in their areas and in that way contribute in job creation and creating entrepreneurs.
The best male designer award went to Lulama Maka’s LM The Junior, while the best woman designer award went to Yonela Bekizulu’s YB Designs.
The best youth award went to 20year-old Mfezeko Cobokana’s CM creation.
Winning the award came as a shock to Qumrha Village-born Cobokana as this was the first time he had competed.
The fashion show ran for three days and other fringe activities included a carnival, boxing matches, a business seminar, and a SMME investment conference.