Durban Fashion Fair highlights

They came, they saw, we conquered. What a weekend for Durban Fashion! If you were awake at 6am this morning you would’ve spotted the first spin off from this weekend’s fashion shindigs on SABC’s morning TV show Espresso, with even more national media buzz to come.  

 

Press, designers and the rest of the fashion crowd descended onto our shores last Thursday and while us Durbanites all secretly knew this year would easily be the best fair yet, I think it would be fair to say that hashtag DFF rocked the party.

 

There were 100 highlights this weekend. Between the “emerging designer shows” on Thursday and Friday, Gavin Rajah’s, ”why isn’t Gideon showing” gold and black protest tee, the talk of a Fundudzi by Craig Jacobs concept store in Durban and swimwear by Dax Martin.

 

By the time David Tlale’s show rolled round on Saturday afternoon, it was pure fashion frenzy. Of course the king of glamour showed his menswear range at a mysterious ‘off site venue’…the Durban City Hall Park. Which proved to be an idyllic location for his wonderfully structured pieces.  

 

 

(Above: Terrence Bray's collection) 

 

 

(Above: Colleen Eitzen) 

 

Terrence Bray, Kathryn Kidger and Colleen Eitzen, as always, flew the Durban designer flag high each with a unique feminine twist on spring/summer. Francois Verdemme’s all white show was just as charming.

 

 

(Above: Kathryn Kidger's collection) 

 

 

(Above: Francois Verdemme’s all white collection) 

 

When Mayor James Nxumalo, together with Deputy Mayor Nomvuzo Shabalala, officially opened the Durban Fashion Fair last week he stated that the city remains committed to developing the fashion industry because this sector has the potential of addressing problems of unemployment and poverty. And the Mzanzi fashion world couldn’t be happier. There’s no doubt that some of the country's most successful designers reign from our shores and the commitment and support from eThekwini Municipality is paramount.

 

- Miss Buttons