2020 A MODEL YEAR FOR THE DURBAN FASHION FAIR
This year’s Durban Fashion Fair (DFF) is evolving into a year of fashion development and fashion fun post Covid-19.
Following a three-night virtual event aptly themed The Show Must Go on September 23, 24, 25 which showcased the work of 25 local designers and highlighted iconic settings across the city, a group of up and coming new designers is now preparing for a second “live”fashion celebration towards the end of the year.
This show will also feature new modelling talents who are being prepared for their big day on the catwalk as we speak.
The DFF is now in its ninth year. Central to this has been creating opportunities for youngsters to build careers in the fashion and clothing sector and encouraging locals to support not only home grown businesses but also local talent. Given the high youth unemployment rate in South Africa, this is now more important than ever.
Since the very first show nine years ago, the eThekwini Municipality has invested substantial sums in internships, industry related training programmes, networking sessions and various lifestyle and modelling programmes and boot camps.
At the beginning of this year, a class of new faces was chosen to be trained and to take part in the DFF. But all was put on hold when the pandemic arrived and lockdown became a reality. Now that the country is on level one, all is back on track for the remainder of the year.
Central to getting the new crop of model catwalk ready are weekly boot camps which are led by professionals Stanley Okwulieaku and Khwezi Ngwenya – Ntombela who are no strangers to the DFF runway. Included in these boot camps are lessons on runway modelling, posing and posture, nutrition, photographic editorial techniques and “model etiquette”.
This is aimed at giving these newcomers the tools to reach for their dreams and take full advantage of the opportunity to participate in a high profile fashion show such as the DFF.
The modelling students, together with the new designers who are already honing their skills as part of a mentorship programme, will be participating in a live show at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, followed by the annual DFF Recognition Awards show, on Friday, December 11th!
In case you missed all the past “fashiontainment” action from the #DFF2020 on www.durbanfashionfair.com – go to the facebook page: Durban Fashion Fair or on Twitter / Instagram @Dbnfashion_fair to find out how to catch up!
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