Young Durban Designers Shine

 

June is Youth Month and we look at four young designers who are dazzling the design world thanks to eThekwini Municipality.

In 2020 four young designers from Durban were selected to design the outfits that will be worn by athletes that represent South Africa at the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics’ opening ceremonies in 2021.

Mbali Zulu, Nompumelelo Mjadu, Sandile Sikhakhane and Sipho Lushaba were tasked with designing the kit that will be worn by South African athletes at the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics’ opening ceremonies.

The designers are products of the Durban Fashion Fair development programme.

‘’We welcome such progressive strides by one  of our flagship programmes, the Durban Fashion Fair which skills and empowers budding talent in the fashion industry,’’ said eThekwini Municipality Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda.

Umhlanga Life sat down with the four designers to find out more about them.

Mbali Zulu | Instagram: @MbaliZulu6

For Mbali Zulu the fashion madness started when she played with her Barbie dolls. ‘’I used to sew clothes from fabric around the house and have my own fashion shows,’’ said Mbali Zulu.

She praised the Durban Fashion Fair development programme which is an initiative of eThekwini Municipality. ‘’The programme helped with training me to be a better business women, opening doors to promote our brand on an international level,’’ emphasised Mbali Zulu.

The designer that inspires her most is David Tlale.

The outfit they designed for the athletes is very functional. ‘’The outfit was inspired by the Athletes. They wanted an outfit that will unite us all, we created a print by combining different animal prints and we added in the Olympics print. The outfit is ready to wear so they can even use it after the opening ceremony,’’ shared Mbali Zulu.

She gave this advice to young designers, ‘’Apply for programmes like the Durban Fashion Fair mentorships, they really help to mentor you and launch you as a designer. Start designing and making your clothes,’’ said Mbali Zulu.

Her brand ZuluM specialises in ready to wear, with an African celebration through colours and fabrication.

‘’Start doing what you love today not tomorrow, start with the little you have and build from there, start with making clothes for your family,’’ advises Mbali Zulu.

Youth Month is a reminder to her that we can all make a difference. ‘’We can contribute and make a change to better our lives,’’ stated Mbali Zulu.

Sipho Lushaba | Instagram: @svl_designs

For Sipho Lushaba the entrance into the fashion world was early. ‘’I used to watch my mother sew and from playing dress-up, using me as her own personal mannequin to style me, I developed a love for fashion so I decided to study fashion design at Lindiwe Kuzwayo Academy of Fashion,’’ said Sipho Lushaba.

‘’The Durban Fashion Fair helped me by giving me the platform to develop my skill through the mentorship programme where we were mentored by Fezile Mdletshe and had the opportunity to showcase our talents through the fashion, so it actually helped expose me to the fashion world,’’ notes Sipho Lushaba.

He got involved in designing the Olympic teams opening ceremony kit by being offered the opportunity by Durban Fashion Fair, eThekwini Municipality and Mr Price.

He is inspired by Alexander McQueen and Thebe Magugu.

Where did he get his inspiration for the kit? ‘’Mainly from the Madiba dream and how he wanted to unite us as a nation through sports and how we wanted to represent the athletes and their dreams of stepping foot in the world’s biggest stage, so we also incorporated elements of our cultural diversity which are represented by the big 5 and the Protea,’’ adds Sipho Lushaba.

His advice to young designers, ‘’Start now, look for opportunities which will help you in developing your skills and which help you get exposed to the world of fashion and also to value your craft, love what you do and never lose focus of what you wish to achieve,’’ shared Sipho Lushaba.

He uses his artistic brand SVL Designs to tell stories through art and fashion by fusing both in garments. 

‘’You can’t do everything by yourself at all times, seek out help where you can and be patient with yourself and the process,’’ advises Sipho Lushaba.

‘’Youth Month to me means that we shouldn’t let the sacrifices which were made for us to have a better future go to waste, we should take the opportunities given to us and make the most out of them, so those who made the sacrifices can be proud at the end of the day,’’ states Sipho Lushaba.

Nompumelelo Mjadu | Instagram: @jado_mjadu

‘’I started as a self-taught dressmaker. I was very passionate, this led me to pursue fashion as a career at Lindiwe Kuzwayo Academy of Fashion,’’ said Nompumelelo Mjadu.

She graduated with a fashion diploma in 2019 and had a specific interest in starting her own business.

‘’When I joined the DFF mentorship programme I was very green. I had just come out of college. I was given a platform to prove myself, through the programme I developed innovative skills,’’ notes Nompumelelo Mjadu.

Coco Chanel and Laduma Maxhosa are designers that inspire her.

‘’It is ok to start small wherever you are, prove yourself! Make use of programmes like Durban Fashion Fair,’’ advises Nompumelelo Mjadu.

Her brand Jado Mjadu is an original feminine brand that focuses on the timeless style of women who value quality.   

‘’The hardest times are the best time to grow or create something new,’’ advises Nompumelelo Mjadu.

‘’Youth Month means that we as young people remain conscious of our vision and pave the way for the next generation to fight a different battle to ours,’’ said Nompumelelo Mjadu.

Sandile Sikhakhane | Instagram: @sandile_da_creactive

 ‘’My whole life has been fashion and design. I’ve been doing this since I was 13. I’ve always been thinking outside the box. I had a vision of turning people into walking canvases’’ said Sandile Sikhakhane.  

‘’The DFF Mentorship programme in 2020 gave me the tools that I needed to be where I am now,’’ stated Sandile Sikhakhane.

He is inspired by Alexander McQueen.

‘’If you can see it you can achieve it. Don’t stop, never stop. Just keep pushing. It takes a whole lot of hard work,’’ advises Sandile Sikhakhana.   

His brand sAnd!Le_da_creActive uses arts and crafts to bring value to what people think is nothing.

‘’I’ve learnt to turn my losses into lessons and my lessons into my earnings. If you learn you will earn. I’ve learnt how to cut costs. Collaboration is key, ‘’ advises Sandile Sikhakhana.

‘’Youth Month means it’s a reminder that I as a Youth have the power to change the world. We can do a whole lot to change. We can move mountains. We can become future kings and queens thus passing on knowledge,’’ said Sandile Sikhakhana.

For more information on how eThekwini Municipality is helping you visit: www.durban.gov.za