Designers in race to frock it

The annual extravaganza celebrates its 113th year of horse-racing and fashion, with 50,000 punters and fashionistas expected to flock to Durban's Greyville racecourse next weekend.

Celebrities such as entertainment show Flash presenter Isabella de Villiers, YFM DJ Bonang Matheba and socialite Uyanda Mbuli are among those who will strut their stuff in designer gear.

Diamond Face Couture designer Gert-Johan Coetzee said he would be creating garments for seven celebs, including Matheba and DFC partner Mbuli, known for her racy fashion sense.

"I am having so much fun with the theme. I am designing around games like baseball and gambling.

"I will take those themes and make them sexy, chic and feminine," Coetzee said.

Craig Jacobs of the Fundudzi label said his designs would feature a uniquely South African board game: "Everything we designed for the July is around the mo rabaraba [checkers] board game, because we wanted something South African and distinctive."

David Tlale with his designs at Africa Fashion Week

Johannesburg-based designer David Tlale, who last week won the Designer of the Year Award at Africa Fashion Week, said he was not going to move away from his signature look, but will play with the theme, keeping the sexy feel of the event in mind. He will dress MetroFM DJ couple Unathi Nkayi and Thomas Msengane.

"My garments will be totally different from what people have seen [me design] this year, as I am trying to work with the theme.

"But I will add power, seduction and sensuality to the outfits," he said.

Tlale, along with Jacobs, Malcom Klûk of Klûk CGDT, Durban designers Karen Monk Klijnstra, Madelain Clark and Nosipho Diko, will also be showcasing their garments in the event's design competition.

Source: The Times

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