Durban - The Durban University of Technology held their annual fashion show last week. Liam Joyce chatted to the students who won awards.
Tayla Horn
Best Innovative Range
Tell me about the inspiration behind your range
It’s a story about a soldier going into battle. Even though I was inspired to put together a menswear range, the collection is unisex because of the designs I went for.
What did you want the final outcome to look like?
I wanted to create a base and design over it, sort of like a blank canvas a painter would paint over. I did a lot of the patterns myself by painting the material and the hand stitching and embroidery. I used very neutral colours, browns and light greys. A soldier doesn’t wear red when he goes into battle.
What was the most difficult aspect of putting this collection together?
I wanted to add so many different artistic elements to the garments but I had to reign myself in and not over do it. That was difficult.
Carla Klynsmith
Best Technical Range
What was your inspiration?
We live in a world where people want instant gratification; we do not want to wait for things to happen over a period of time, so I was inspired to put together a story where there is no outcome to any process.
Take me through your design process
Personally I am a very simple girl but I love luxury, I wanted to go with the less is more approach, straight lines, clear cubic’s and clean silhouettes.
The garments start off heavy with the fabrics I used, but end off softer.
How excited are you about winning?
It’s so cool! I was very excited. It’s always good to receive recognition.
Londiwe Hadebe
Winner of Most Commercial Range
What inspired your collection?
I was inspired by the sunset and the beach. I absolutely love the beach and more often than not the colours that come from the sun setting are beautiful. I am a Durban girl so I appreciate such beauty.
Take me through the design process
I knew what colours I wanted to use, I wanted my range to scream summer, however, I was so confused about how far to go with the actual design of the garments, I opted for clean lines and silhouettes that would compliment any body type.
How excited were you about winning?
Oh my goodness I was and still am very excited.When I was backstage and they called my name, I sort of just froze
What was the most difficult aspect of putting your collection together?
For me it was the financial aspect of it, I used fabrics like liquid satin that are easy to wear, so it took me a while to save up and purchase the fabrics I wanted.
Grayson Smith
Best Menswear
What was your inspiration?
Durban was my inspiration, from the architecture to the beach to the nature around us, I just look at how these elements influence us.
Tell me about your range
It lends itself to a resort range, I went for a boxy style that will compliment the male form, I used neutral colours with pops of colour.
What was the most difficult aspect of putting this collection together?
To be honest the finish was difficult, I found that even when I was finished with an outfit I wanted to add something to it or change something about it, so committing to a finished loom was difficult.
Natasha le Roux
Best Range on Show
What was your inspiration?
I love Asia so I was inspired by Indian culture but more specifically the Hindu religion. My collection is about a lady on a journey through the mountains of India.
Tell me about your collection
I used a lot of bright colours, lots of fabric with detailed Indian patterns and I have such a huge obsession with pom poms that I somehow incorporated that into my range. I wanted something comfortable so I used over exaggerated harem pants and jumpsuits.
How excited are you about winning?
I did not expect to win at all, so I was very grateful when my name was announced. I was actually speechless.
What was the most difficult aspect of putting this collection together
Making my collection cohesive, I found that designing seven different outfits that still had the same image was difficult.
Liam Joyce, Sunday Tribune