Here Rajah goes again, says DFF organiser Sim Tshabalala
SIM Tshabalala, the brains behind the Durban Fashion Fair, is not moved by comments made by “copycat” designer Gavin Rajah about him last week.
Last week Rajah said Tshabalala was the one who started the copycat scandal in 2014, claiming Rajah had copied a dress by international designer, Zuhair Murad.
Speaking to the Sunday Tribune this week, Tshabalala said Rajah was trying to get publicity for his show.
“When I read the article on Sunday I was like, aarghhh, here he goes again. I am over it, it’s in the past, although he lied about me and the work I do.
“I don’t hold grudges. I don’t have a vendetta against Rajah, I wish him well,” he said.
He said he did not start the copycat scandal.
“I made an observation that the dress looked familiar, (asked) who the original designer was and other people commented. He then threatened me with lawyers’ letters.
“Then we had a gentlemen’s agreement. He called me and was all emotional and teary, and we agreed not to speak to the media, not to take this forward,” Tshabalala recalled.
“Forty-eight hours later I saw him on the news, and since then he has opened his mouth again over the years, linking my name to the whole copycat situation,” said Tshabalala.
The 2014 copycat scandal was not the last. Rajah was again accused of copying in 2015 and last year.
Tshabalala said that, although he has moved on, he was shocked by Rajah’s statements against him.
Rajah had said that Tshabalala was angry with him after he had walked the ramp at DFF in 2014 wearing a T-shirt saying “Why isn’t Gideon showing?”
“I was not angry. That’s a lie and he knows it. After that show we all laughed and we even took a photograph of me, Gavin and Gideon because he was there. It became a joke. I told him why Gideon was not showcasing.
“They were all invited, Gideon didn’t respond. I got someone to call and beg him and he still wouldn’t showcase (his work),” said Tshabalala.
“What happens is when we started, a lot of designers saw DFF as this black thing and we always explained it’s about developing young designers and about promoting new talent. It’s about giving a worldclass fashion week platform to undiscovered talent. Gavin is making me look like I am unethical and removing some designers, which is not true,” said Tshabalala.
He said that if he was to organise another fashion show, he would invite Rajah.
“I have no problem with Rajah. If I host the Fashion By The Sea again, I would invite him. Regarding DFF, I don’t make executive decisions. If the municipality feels a designer is too expensive for them, they would say ‘(no) thank you’. We have had some designers demanding appearance fees, which the city can’t afford,” he said.