At a glittering semi-final showcase at the Gateway Theatre of Shopping on Wednesday evening, 25 semi-finalists in the Hollywoodbets Durban July Young Designer Award presented by Durban Fashion Fair were whittled down to the 10 finalists.
The semi-finalists, who were selected from over 100 entrants on June 6, paraded their race-day designs inspired by this year’s “Out of this World” theme, while the judges had the tough task selecting just the 10, who now face a tense, but busy, two-week wait before the top three are named on July 1.
The Young Designer Award Semi-Final Showcase was an evening of high fashion that also included a Ready-To-Wear show. The crowd of fashionistas soaked up the creative interpretations of the theme and the intricate construction of their eye-catching race-day ensembles.
The ten Young Designer finalists are:
Nontuthuzelo Mbasa (Lindiwe Khuzwayo)
Andile Nsele (DUT)
Emmanuel Kucherera (Fezile Fashion Academy)
Thabiso Khethelo (DUT)
Minenhle Luvuno (Esayidi Fashion School)
Siphesihle Mkhize (Umgungundlovu TVET)
Lwandle Zwezwe (PMB School of Fashion)
Smangele Mbanjwa (PMB School of Fashion)
Hlonela Danisa (Umgungundlovu TVET)
Nokwanda Ndlovu (PMB School of Fashion)
