Young designer aims to shine at the NYFW

DURBAN’S 14-year-old fashion designer Enhle Gebashe is looking forward to making her dream of showcasing her work at the New York Fashion Week (NYFW) a reality next month.

The young designer extraordinaire embarked on her clothing journey at the tender age of 10, where she began by designing for children and her dolls. She drew inspiration from her grandmother, who also is a fashion designer.

Enhle, who hails from Adams Mission, a town in the south of Durban, is an online pupil, and is preparing to go to the National School of Arts in Johannesburg next year.

Enhle’s brand, Enhlebabes Couture, caters for girls aged four to 12.

In May Enhle was invited by NYFW to showcase her collection on their platform and received a 50% discount on her designer package.

Although she was fortunate enough to have a donor from America give 50% towards her registration deposit, she is seeking additional funding to make it possible to strut her stuff in the US on September 10.

In an attempt to raise more funds towards her overseas trip she has partnered with a fashion school in Limpopo province that will assist with making her merchandise for a “Fashion Against Bullying” campaign, which she is starting this year.

The additional funds required will contribute towards material to manufacture Enhle’s collection for the NYFW, flights, food and accommodation for the week that she will be staying in the city. She will also be travelling with three models from the country who will wear her designs on the international stage.

Speaking about her invitation to the Big Apple, Enhle said she was looking forward to it.

“I feel ecstatic and blessed to be given a platform and opportunity to showcase my line at an event of this magnitude. This is a dream I have always had. However, I did not anticipate that it would come so soon,” she said.

Enhle said her spirit was slightly dampened by a shortage of funds.

“I want to show New York City what Africa is capable of and that we have such talent, at such a young age. It would also allow me to make my dream come true and to set an example and encourage other children as young as myself to follow their dreams confidently,” she said.

At her age, Enhle has made her mark in the industry, ranging from a mural in Johannesburg’s Maboneng to three awards, namely the “My Little Darling” from Darling Hair SA in 2019, being the Charlotte Maxeke Institute’s first Young Entrepreneur award winner in 2020, and winning the National Teachers Awards’ Best Learner category in 2021. She was showcased at the Durban Fashion Fair last year.

She has also hosted Catwalk Masterclass 2022, an event she initiated for aspiring models who want to get into runway modelling.

Anyone who wants to contact Enhle can email her at entlewam@gmail.com