VUKANI! FASHION AWARDS Creating the Stars of Tomorrow

The 16th Annual Vukani! Fashion Awards took place on the 26th June 2010 at Ubuntu Kraal in conjunction with Metropolitan, Bernina, Dad Fund, Webo amongst other sponsors. It was an event of colossal magnitude with the finalists raising the bar in standard of product quality, innovation, creativity and ingenuity and only three talented young designers were awarded for their outstanding creations at the event. The three winners, Jane Wolff, Zanele Ncane and Yolande Maree scooped prestigious awards for their creations from a selection of 14 finalists across South Africa, competing in the prominent competition.

Jane Wolff from the warm province of KwaZulu Natal won the Metropolitan Vukani! Award in the category of Most Innovative Design, when she amazed the crowd together with the judges with her intricate detailed work merged with extravagant and bold designs. She used different styles, shapes and embellishments to complete the silhouettes of her collection, which featured garments blending international trends with a futuristic approach to African style for women. She drew her inspiration from emotions, which came across in her designs.

Ayanda Vilakazi, Marketing Manager of Metropolitan says “entrepreneurship especially amongst our youth is the future for South Africa. Metropolitan is proud to sponsor the Vukani Fashion Awards for the second time, as it’s a demonstration of what our brand stands for, “together we can”.

Judges, including celebrity publicists and designer Simphiwe Majola, were impressed with the designer’s attention to detail in her collection slick and sexy with a touch of boldness inspired by breaking boundaries and bringing different elements to complete the puzzle.

Meanwhile Yolande Maree from North West and a 2nd year student at the North West School of Design impressed the judges, with her elegant, soft and flowing silhouettes in her designs. Her signature style is inspired by elegance, beauty, sensuality, charisma and confidence. Her designs are sexy, subtle with a touch of radiance in use of colours like gold and brown and yellow. She was awarded the Bernina Vukani! High Fashion! Commendation for her eye-catching, long sexy and slick gown.

Zanele Ncane from KwaZulu Natal, scooped the prestigious Dad Fund Vukani Best Collection Award and was the star of the evening. Currently a student at the Durban University of Technology, her collection was a fusion of simplicity with a touch intricate detailing to the finish of the garment by creating her own fabric by using painting techniques as her signature. Her designs were playful through her choice of colours and accessories like exaggerated hats. She combined earthy tones to achieve a subtle ecological and global feel for world travelers.

The Vukani! Fashion Awards marked the official closing of this year’s successful Fashion Awards and African Fashion Exchange, which had run at Ubuntu Kraal in Soweto from 17-29 June 2010. To tie in with this spirit of fashion, both local and international designers participated in the first ever African Fashion Exchange. Designers show-cased their beautiful collections which were inspired by the continent’s heritage and global influence in their designs. All shows were open to the general public. “My calling in life is to promote and unleash unseen talent, that is why I am passionate about improving indigenous fashion in the South African through the Vukani! Fashion Awards”, says Sonwabile Ndamase, Executive President of SAFDA and founder of the Annual Vukani Fashion Awards. “There is still a lot of talent out there and that is more work for me to ensure that I achieve my mission”, he adds. ” Invited guests included leading designers from Ethiopia, Angola, Malawi, Swaziland, Botswana and South Africa presenting their collections.

All three Vukani! Fashion Award winners were provided with the very latest start-up kit from Bernina Machine to the total value of R94000.00 which sponsored part of the prizes. The overall winner of this year’s event Ms Zandile Ncane, won a once in a lifetime opportunity to attend a 5-week mentorship programme in the USA, sponsored by the DAD Fund. This opportunity forms part of the Young Entrepreneurs Programme. The prize is worth + R350 000.00 and the winner will leave in September 2010 to begin her mentorship.

To enter the Vukani! Fashions Awards 2011 click here

Issued by

Sonwabile Ndamase
Executive President (SAFDA)/Vukani Fashions
Louisa House 6th Floor
149 Pritchard Street, Crn. End Street
Johannesburg
2000

Fax2Mail number: 0865421478
Tel: +27114021661/2
Fax: +27114021663
Mobile: +27825794236
Website: www.vukanifashions.com
Or www.vukanifashionawards.co.za