2012 Vodacom Durban July Invited Designers’ Fashion Showcase a smash hit
20 June 2012

Wednesday night’s Vodacom Durban July Fashion Showcase, brought to you by Canon, afforded excited members of Durban’s fashion community their first glimpse of this year’s eagerly anticipated Invited Designers’ collections and once again South Africa’s incredible design depth came to the fore.

The show was more than it promised with drama, theatrics and unrivalled designs not seen anywhere else in South Africa, culminating in the first viewing of the exclusively Invited Designer showcase.

Opening with a powerful live performance from local techno group Veranda Panda, the mood was set for an electric fashion display.

David Thale (left) wowed the crowd with a black and white collection featuring strong animal printed chiffon. The showstopper was of regal proportions, with layer upon layer of ombre-dyed tulle forming an elaborate shawl and a statement neckpiece of beads cascading down the dress.

Leigh Schubert’s collection was the epitome of ethereal beauty, with a range of sheer cream netting, falling in layers effortlessly over the body. Cascading soft godets, pooled fabric at the hem that seemed to float along the runway.

Zama Mathe set tongues wagging with a tailored collection of sheer black chiffon & netting, open necklines and lace-up backs. The daring collection had an ethnic twist with grey shell and bead detail on cuffs and necklines.

Suzaan Heyns featured intricate black and cream spider-web panelled dresses. Gold was the accent of the range with buckled panels restraining the body and a delicate contrasting gold crystal shawl adding a futuristic, yet delicately demure feel to the collection.

Gideon’s collection of cream, grey and snatches of rich scarlet and blue, told a dramatic story of forbidden love. The theatrical collection built up to a deliciously tempting sheer red panelled dress as his showstopper.

Brenda Quinn from Diva (right) stunned the crowd with a collection only to be described as dramatic. The cream and beige collection showed an array of textures from lace to crocheted doilies. Quinn’s showstopper featured a multi-textural handkerchief skirt which drew gasps from the crowd.

Colleen Eitzen showcased a flawlessly feminine range of tiered skirts in a gradation of tones from beige and grey to rich berry, which appeared to drip from the dresses. Eitzen’s leather accessories added a subtle contrast to the sheer fabrics.

Life by Andre Martin stayed true to his label by featuring a dominantly male collection. Martin awed the crowd with a powerful display of denim and PVC, embellished with metal-studded black leather strips dramatically accented in dark red.

Also on the programme was the debut of the national Fashion Challenge finalists which showed the height of creative fashion across South Africa. Elissa Krugel stunned the crowd with an innovative dress made up of hair extensions intricately woven together, embellished with dazzling gems and rounded off with a 20’s style headband. Teresa Joubert of Gelieft brought a carnival of fun to the runway with an exquisitely quilted dress accented with a quirky red apple headpiece. 

The show was brought to a rousing close with the lively and energetic Vuka drummers captivating the audience from beginning to end.