BARBARA COLE
Fortunes might have been won and lost at the Vodacom Durban July, but over at the action stage, dreams were coming true.
Fashion designers who entered the various competitions to make a name for themselves were winning and placing – and creating bright futures for themselves.
With the theme for this year’s event being “The Captain’s Table”, Durban University of Technology student Carla Gerstmeier sailed to victory in the coveted Young Designer Award.
Gerstmeier, 27, beat more than 100 aspiring and talented young KwaZulu-Natal designers to clinch the first prize of a trip to the New York Fashion Week.
“It’s a dream come true. I will soak up as much as I can at the fashion week,” she beamed.
Caitlin Shoesmith, 25, who has never been on a plane, will soon jet off to the fashion centre of Milan: her prize for winning the national Fashion Challenge.
She has a fashion diploma under her belt and is now on the Durban Fashion Fair mentorship programme, praising her lecturers for teaching her how to be creative and start her own business.
Elsewhere on the track, heads turned at some of the fashion creations.
One woman was sporting a head-dress fashioned from thatch.
“It’s for Nkandla,” grinned Zenele Shezi, referring to President Jacob Zuma’s controversial homestead.
One racegoer, Larochelle Smit, was naked under her revealing dress, except for a 3cm covering that was “saving my dignity”.
Well-known fashionista Logie Naidoo, the Speaker of eThekwini Municipality, who was spotted in the Sibaya marquee, wore a new salmon-coloured suit which was inspired by something he had seen in London’s famous Savile Row two weeks ago.
“I tried to get navy and white stripes (to go with the raceday theme), but could not get the fabric,” he said.
Tycoon Vivian Reddy did have a jacket of narrow navy and white stripes, however. It was Armani, which he got in Milan on a recent trip, he explained.
His wife, Sorisha Naidoo, wore a long red dress, designed and made by Durban designer Haroun Hansrot in just one day.
The winners of the fashion competitions were:
* Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award, presented by Durban Fashion Fair: Carla Gerstmeier
* Vodacom Durban July Fashion Challenge Award, presented by Durban Fashion Fair: Caitlin Shoesmith
* Gold Circle Most Striking Couple: Mthonzi Mthembu
* Gold Circle Classic Racewear, Female: Sifiso Sabele
* Gold Circle Classic Racewear, Male: Teez M Fashion House
* Gold Circle Exceptional Raceday Hat or Fascinator: Kireshen Chetty