With the announcement of the finalists for KZN’s top young fashion design competition due on Wednesday, last year’s winner of the Hollywoodbets Durban July Young Designer Award presented by Durban Fashion Fair, Lwandle Zwezwe-Lubisi, advises the potential winners to take the time to breathe and be in the moment.
The ten finalists in the prestigious competition will be announced at the semi-finals event to be held at Gateway Theatre of Shopping on Wednesday, and the 2023 winner has some sage advice for those following in her footsteps.
“Take in the excitement, the atmosphere and the moment. It’s a big win. You are deserving of the achievement and remember to try to take in this moment of glory,” said Zwewe-Lubisi.
A graduate of the Pietermaritzburg School of Fashion, Zwezwe-Lubisi’s creation last year earned her the coveted title as well as a R50 000 Hollywood Foundation bursary to help pay her fees; R10 000 in cash compliments of Gold Circle and Schweppes; and a R5 000 gift card courtesy of Gateway Theatre of Shopping.
In addition to this, she also won an-all-expenses paid travel bursary from Gold Circle to attend SA Fashion Week at the Mall of Africa in April this year . This provided her with the opportunity to see and experience fashion designers and their creations first hand.
She said winning the Young Designers award last year instantly elevated her career and provided her with a platform that took her into spaces she never thought she would experience.
“I felt like things changed immediately (after I won) – there were opportunities, things opened up, I received invitations to attend events, and I found myself in rooms with high celebrities mingling with people I never thought I would get the chance to meet,” she said.
Referring to the win she said: “Don’t let this be your roof but rather your stepping stone – to success. You must use this achievement to do more – you must put yourself forward, learn from it, take in all the opportunities that come with it and above all enjoy it and be proud of your achievement”.
On Wednesday the 25 semi-finalists will put their creations before the judges, who will select the final top 10 – from which the final top three will be announced on the day of Africa’s premier horse racing and social event – the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
She said she was able to use her prize money as start-up capital for her fashion design business called “Draped in Chic”.
Now established as a full-time fashion designer, she said, “I would describe my designs as classic, chic, elegant, full of beauty and opulence – as well as being very feminine. I have a soft-side, a girly side and this definitely comes out”.
Her clients include university students who could be hosting a graduating ceremony, a matric dance student who wants to stand out or a woman celebrating a birthday or who is attending a social occasion.
She said she is planning to attend this year’s Durban July as she does not wish to lose the relationship that has been built up as a result of this platform.
As far as the future is concerned, she said would like to be considered as an Invited Designer at next year’s event and is working towards entering as many different fashion competitions as possible.
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