Designer on the lookout for top blend of fashion
PALSE Homme menswear designer Paledi Segapo hopes Nelson Mandela Bay students will do more than wake up and smell the coffee when he judges their garments during the East Cape Derby at the Fairview Racecourse tomorrow.
The Soweto-born entrepreneur is a ramp regular at SA Fashion Week and on other platforms in Africa and in Europe.
He is one of three judges at the annual horseracing extravaganza tomorrow, looking at garments by second-year students from NMMU’s fashion and textile department.
“I’ll be looking for creativity, how well they have comprehended the theme, impeccable workmanship and clothes that are a tour de force,” Segapo said.
Inexperienced designers sometimes fell into the trap of costume wear, he said. “It must still be fashion.”
The student brief is to design for the theme Out of Africa, based on a coffee blend by Port Elizabeth firm Mastertons Coffee.
Although each garment must illustrate this, the students may also incorporate one specific blend of Mastertons coffee in their design.
Segapo is a seasoned judge – he is the official designer for Miss South Africa this year – and has also lectured on fashion in Johannesburg.
In 2015 he was voted African Designer of the year and describes his own style as modern classics with an element of surprise.
Taking the cue from international trends in men’s fashion, Segapo says skinny fit pants are on their way out, to be replaced with a wide-leg look: “It’s going to be frightening for South African men! The ’70s are moving towards the ’90s.
“The other trend that is unfolding is gender fluidity, clothes are now becoming genderless.”
The designer is also a regular at the Durban July, but will not be there on July 1 as he will be at Dakar Fashion Week in Senegal on that date.
Fairview Racecourse promotions manager Karin le Roux said the day would include live acts, lucky draws, giveaways, a children’s entertainment area and food trucks.
Entry to the course is free. Gates open at 11am, and the race programme starts at noon. ý
IT is time for the Port Elizabeth horse racing festival with the highlight being the running of the World Sport Betting East Cape Derby at Fairview.
The action starts today with a meeting on the polytrack, followed by the Derby meeting tomorrow.
It has been a while since Port Elizabeth had a Saturday meeting, and two meetings within two days is also a unique experience for local fans.
Today’s meeting sees the third and last leg of the East Cape Poly Challenge.
Sir Duke looks set to take the R50 000 consolation bonus for the horse that earned the most points over the three legs.
Tomorrow, the big question will be can a local stable win the Derby.
The last time a PE horse won the race was way back in 2009 when Lizard’s Desire did the business for trainer Mitch Wiese.
He lives in Melbourne these days and sends his best wishes to Port Elizabeth trainers Alan Greeff, Gavin Smith and Grant Paddock, who have runners in the big race.
Since Lizard’s Desire’s victory, the Cape Town raiders have dominated this race and they look hard to beat again.
Strathdon (Justin Snaith), Dorset Noble (Candice Robinson) and Arabian Dynasty (Brett Crawford) are the Cape Town challengers, but there is also a visitor from KwaZulu-Natal in Sabre Charge.
The other big race on tomorrow’s card is the Dahlia Plate.
The Greeff stable has a tremendous record in this race and the East Cape champion trainer is going for his fifth win in a row.
It is great to see legendary Port Elizabethborn jockey Piere Strydom is in town to ride on both days. “Striker” and some of the other jockeys have pledged to donate some of their prize money to the East Cape Horse Care Unit.
The Community Chest is another charity that will benefit from today’s meeting.
Tomorrow will be the one racing day in the year that not everyone will attend purely for the racing. It is also party time with lots of entertainment for young and old.
Punters’ Pal tips: Today PA (R432) 1-5/3-4/1-5-11/1-2-6/1-10/5-10/2-3-5 PICK6 (R2 304) 1-3-4-5/1-5-11-13/1-2-6/1-2-8-10/5-10-12/2-3-5-7 Tomorrow PA (R72) 1-8-11/3-7/1/1-4-7/3-4/3/2-4 PICK6 (R1 800) 2-3-4-7/1-2-3/1-3-4-7-8/2-3-4-5-6/1-3/2-4-10