George fashion designer aims for the stars
Austin Lee (22), a talented designer from George, contained his extreme excitement well when he handed over one of his designs to Anna-Marie Steenkamp, Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters's mother, on Sunday, 11 February.
"The dress is actually an invitation for Demi-Leigh to have a peek at the quality of work the local designers are putting out in the Garden Route. I am sure that once she sees it she will agree to be the attraction at a fashion show in the Garden Route so that we can showcase the amazing talent of local designers," said Lee. "After all, she comes from the area. Like she said herself, 'nothing is impossible'."
With pride he describes how the dress came about. "When Iris Mittenaere, Miss Universe 2016, crowned Demi-Leigh in the early hours of Monday 27 November 2017, I was bursting with inspiration. It felt as if I was celebrating with the new Miss Universe while sketching a design for her, hoping that it will someday reach her."
Asked what the dress looks like, Lee said, "The dress was made for Miss Universe. It is for her to show you, not me."
Nel-Peters reached out to Lee after he posted on facebook, "Can someone please tell @demileighnp I have this package with her name on it."
Steenkamp then offered to help the determined designer in his effort to ensure his design reaches her daughter.
Lee boasts a successful self-coordinated fashion show, held on local soil at Parkdene Secondary School in 2016, behind his name and a stylish luxe exotique (French for exotic style) collection which he showcased at Nelson Mandela Bay Fashion Week 2017.
Lee dreams of one day designing exquisite outfits for two other stars, Rolene Strauss, Miss SA 2014 and Miss World 2014, as well Liesl Laurie, crowned Miss South Africa 2015.