New talent shows its pattern

Elle New Talent is a collaborative project by Mr Price and Elle to provide a springboard for talented young designers to enter the industry. Winners are mentored by the retail chain and given the opportunity to adapt their range to be merchandised in selected stores.

This year's design entrants were challenged to 'Show Us Your Pattern, a deliberately ambiguous theme that elicited a variety of interpretations and high standards that thrilled the judges.

"All the designers had very different approaches - none were very literal, which made things interesting," said fashion blogger and judge, Sarah Badat. Interpretations ranged "from DNA make-up to Delftware porcelain to the lines on your face," noted Karla Caffyn-Parsons, senior trend forecaster at Mr Price. Fellow-judge and style blogger Mili Bongela confirmed the judges had "a very tough time deciding on the top eight."

Top 8 designers:

• Anneke Koster, 24, is a LISOF graduate from Pretoria
  
• Kutloano Molokomme, 22, is a second-time finalist (he made the top 7 in 2010)
  
• Danielle Hartman, 28, is a Capetonian
  
• Kelly Esterhuyse, 21, is a final-year design student from Port Elizabeth
  
• Khumo Manota, 23, is a LISOF graduate based in Gauteng
  
• Samantha Constable, 23, is a Jozi girl and LISOF graduate
  
• Charl JVR, 27, is another LISOF graduate
  
• Lameez Claasen, 22, is a Cape Town graduate of the Design Academy of Fashion