Top of the pops was the 2015 Durban Designer of the Year, Zama Mathe, and her brand ZARTH beating out one the other 54 designers taking part to take claim ultimate accolade.
This was a particularly special moment for the eThekwini Municipality, which created the DFF to nurture young talent and support the development of new designers. Mathe first showed her designs on the DFF ramp in 2013 and was awarded a sponsored internship to Milan as a result.
The Durban Fashion Legend Award went to Durban success story – Andre Martin of Life. The Best Menswear Collection went to House of St Luke, whose head designer, Mxolisi Luke Mkhize, was chosen for an internship to Milan in 2012. Thula Sindi’s designs earned the Collection of the Week award while footwear designer, Reggie Xaba, of Yellow Folder Trading, was presented with the Fashion Innovator of the Year Award.
Sadie Boswell Smith collected the Next Generation Emerging Durban Designer of the Year Award while the Fashion Business Award went to Mac Cosmetics. The international guest designer award went to Jamal Taslaq (Jamal Taslaq Couture). On the modelling front, the new faces of the year were Twinky Dimba and Olwethu Cele.
The eagerly awaited naming of the 10 interns chosen to go to Milan for a two month internship marked the highlight of the awards evening. The top three - Eli Ball (Eli Ball - Made in Africa), Blaire Hill (Bamboo Hill) and Neliswa Jili (Makuyi Design) – were presented with Rising Stars Awards. They will be accompanied to Milan next month by Sadie Bosworth Smith (Sadie Bosworth), Kat Shoesmith (KSD - Kat Shoesmith Designs), Khanyisile Malimela (Khanyi), Nokubonga Mbambo (Tymles Creations), Zamir Dada (BEL1EV) Nontuthuko Langa (Endless Inspirations) and Thulisiwe Zakwe (RUUTZ).
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