Glitz and glamour, fashionistas, international fashion designers, together with South Africa’s established and emerging designers, African models, stylists, make-up artists and the who’s who of the fashion industry will get together when eThekwini Municipality hosts the 3rd annual Durban Fashion Fair (DFF) taking place at the Durban ICC from the 21 – 24 August 2014.

The DFF is one of the most successful fashion programmes in the country which integrates fashion development, together with exhibitions, 16 fashion shows and continues to capacitate, empower, encourage the culture of entrepreneurship as well as facilitate access to markets and networking opportunities for established and local young designers.

Since the inception of the DFF, the City of Durban has sent a group of designers on an internship programme in Milan – the fashion capital of the world – and has produced over 100 successful young designers who continue to make an impressive mark in the fashion industry. The programme has produced a number of success stories, like uKujula, a self-taught designer who has built a reputable brand and now owns his own multiple fashion outlets. Another successful product of this programme Zama Mathe – aka ZARTH – has made a remarkable mark in the fashion industry and enjoys the support of many leading personalities in the country.

“The fashion industry is one of the major contributors to South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and it continues to face challenges that require collective collaboration to make it a success. It is in the City’s interest to make this industry successful and sustainable. The City has invested over R 10 million into the fashion development initiatives and programmes that include business management training, fashion shows, mentorship and international fashion internship. It is the City’s role to provide a conducive and an enabling environment for our designers whilst through Durban Fashion Fair, we continue to provide opportunities to access markets, including exploring physical and online shopping platforms.” said Mayor Councillor James Nxumalo.

The DFF programme has a number of initiatives that focus on developing a sustainable fashion industry in the City. Sixteen (16) models that have been casted around the City will walk the DFF runway for the first time as they represent new faces of the DFF 2014. This is one of the notable contributions that the Fair aims to promote in order to educate our community about fashion and its impact. This is complemented by activations at various shopping malls around the City.
“Our young designers have now been exposed to different levels of the value chain within the fashion and textile industry. It is in our interest to ensure that young designers get adequate exposure, training and development so that we can build a sustainable fashion industry. Our programme has ensured that emerging designers gain invaluable exposure to global fashion trends through workshops, attend international fashion shows and visit various fashion studios,” said Sindi Shangase, DFF Programme Manager within the Business Support, Tourism and Market Unit.

DFF DESIGNERS
South Africa’s established designers such as Terrence Bray, Thula Sindi, Colleen Eitsen, Kathrin Kidger, Karen Monk-Klijnstra, Pulse, Amos EDC, Brenda, Quin, Dax Martin and CSquared, will share runway with international designers such as Abrantie – The Gentleman, She by Bena, Shadow strap Rebelious Klothing, Chairty Nyirongo, Clemas and Massimo Crivelli who was the guest international designer for 2012. The Fair will also showcase 10 emerging designers including Nguni Shades, St Luke, Sibu Msimang, Zarth, Black Pepper, Tribal Skin, Alfalfa and Duke to mention but a few.

POP UP SHOPS
One of the most notable features of the Durban Fashion Fair are Pop Up Shops with over 50 exhibitors showcasing their products at the Durban ICC from Thursday, 22 – 24 August 2014. Access to the Pop Up Shops is free to the public. Pop Up Shops will open daily from 10:00 to 16:00.
Tickets to the show will be available from Computicket. Entry to the Pop Up Shops and Industry workshops is free.

WIN WIN WIN!!!

We are giving away 5 general double tickets to Durban Fashion Fair.
To enter, comment below as to which designer you are looking most forward to seeing.

Winners will be announced on Thursday 21 August.