Six trailblazing fashion designers have been announced to join in the hand-picked line-up for the Hollywoodbets Durban July Invited Designer Showcase presented by Durban Fashion Fair. The prestigious event once again spotlights a designer whose path to fame started with the annual race day fashion programme.
The line-up includes four well-known Durban designers, Kathrin Kidger, Mxolisi Mkhize, Sibu Msimang and Madelain Clark, alongside Gauteng couturier, Joel Janse van Vuuren, and Capetonian, Sadie Bosworth-Smith.
The invitation to join the stellar line-up continues a remarkable journey for Bosworth-Smith, who hit the headlines in 2014 when she won the Young Designer Award as a DUT student and was star-struck to get the call to join the Invited Designer line-up for the first time three years later.
Now based in Cape Town and with a loyal following with her distinctive Sadie Bosworth Atelier designs and bridal wear, she joins the unique, non-competitive showcase that allows top designers to show their flair by interpreting the race-day theme “Out Of This World” unfettered by commercial constraints.
Durban rockstar designer, Kathrin Kidger, adds her lustre to the line-up, where she will share the stage with established eThekwini names such as Sibu Msimang and “House of Saint Luke” star Mxolisi Mkhize, as well as the enthusiastic Amanzimtoti-based couturier, Madelain Clark.
Johannesburg headliner, Joel Janse Van Vuuren, completes the mouth-watering line-up and he can be expected to show off his ability to delve into creative extremes with his race-day ensemble for the collection.
“The six designers we have chosen for this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July Invited Designer Showcase each bring so much to the table. They all understand that first-and-foremost, this is a chic, elegant, raceday fashion event. Expect breath-taking conceptual elegance translated into raceday ensembles that will leave you speechless,” said fashion programme director, Tiffany Prior.
She said that designers jump at this opportunity to showcase what they can do as it brings a huge audience, both at the pre-race day shows and on the day of the Hollywoodbets Durban July itself, and through the big media following around the reveal of their designs.
“They can head off into a creative orbit in their interpretation of the theme this year, knowing that they are not bound by commercial expectations or trends, or a client’s requirements,” enthused Prior. “Just like Lara Klawikowski last year, it is always a thrill to have a designer whose path to fashion fame was paved by success in the race-day’s annual student designer competition.”
