Durban’s Fashion Fair (DFF) â€" now an eagerly anticipated annual event â€" takes fashion in the city to new heights. Four days of fantastic showings that begin on Thursday 22nd and end on Sunday 25th will not only bring some of the big names of South African fashion to our shores, but introduce international designer Diego M from Italy and new star, Mina Evans-Anfom, from Ghana, who is attracting attention both on the continent and in Europe.

In addition to creating a whole new designer fashion vibe in Durban, the DFF will also see top local and international buyers waiting in the wings. As DFF becomes more and more high profile each year, it is carving itself an important niche on the South African fashion calendar â€" and providing a quality platform for emerging talents to showcase their work and Durbanites to appreciate just what the city’s fashion industry has to offer.

The eagerly anticipated opening to the DFF is scheduled for 4pm on Thursday, August 22nd with a showing by four of the emerging designers who returned from their internship in Milan at the beginning of this year. This inaugural show includes Sanele Cele and his label, Tempracha, Mthokozisi Ntaka who has branded his collection Randevour, Jacqui Emmanuel who is designing under her own name and Modesta by Pinky Dlamini.

Next to come to the ramp are three of the Durban Fashion Fair’s invited designers â€" and big names in the world of fashion - Craig Jacobs (Fundudzi), Zama Mathe (Zarth) and Karen Monk-Klijnstra (KMK). They will be followed by Gavin Rajah at 7.30 pm and Viyella/Carducci at 9pm.

The fashion feast continues on Friday afternoon at 4pm with exciting new talents, many of whom are showing their collections for the first time. From this group, 10 interns will be selected to go to Milan for a three month internship aimed at not only familiarising them with the international fashion scene but also quite literally ramping up their design skills so that they can make a big impact back home.

The line up includes House of Alfalfa and designer Sandile Mlambo, House of St Luke and designer Mxo Luke, House of Treasure Cindi and designer Treasure Cindi, VTON by Mandy van Tonder, Ello Creations from Phumelele Mdletshe, LNK Fashion Designs and designer Nompumelelo Nkomo , designer Karla Lortan with her namesake collection Karla Lortan, Nguni Shades and designer Shaun Dugen Majola, Lutuliegh by Miles Lutuli and MissShape designed by Jamal Nxedlana.

On Friday evening, the DFF will welcome Leigh Schubert and Colleen Eitzen with their collections at 6pm, followed by Terrence Bray, Kathrin Kidger (Reine) and Francois Vedemme with Franck’e. Designer Thula Sindi’s showing will bring this colourful evening to a close at 9pm.

After a stunning start with David Tlale’s designs taking centre stage on Saturday afternoon at 2.30pm at an offsite venue, more of Durban’s young designers will show their creations at 4pm - Duke by Sandile Mngadi, Tribal Skin by Thulani Mnguni, Spine by Thiran Moodley, Drive by Senzo Ngcamu and Gravitie by Jula Mtambo.

Saturday evening again brings some of South Africa’s best to the DFF catwalk with Paledi Segapo (Palse Homme) and Jean Paul Botha (Ruff Tung) starting at 6pm and Thokozani Mbatha (Black Pepper), Haroun Hansrot and eagerly anticipated Ghanian Designer, Mina Evans-Anfom following at 7.30pm. The DFF Collective featuring Retrospective International Collection (Diego M) from Italy together with Dax Martin and Gert Johan Coetzee will round off proceedings with a bang at 9pm.

Although Sunday sadly marks the close of the DFF (until next year at the same time), it does introduce a first for the DFF and the ultimate opportunity for both local and international fashion lovers to indulge their fashion fantasies with the Red Carpet featuring the best of Durban Fashion Fair (the best designs by the participating established designers). Creations shown on the DFF ramp will also be on sale.

Tickets to the exciting fashion shows at the Durban Exhibition Centre are now on sale through Computicket at just R100 per person per show and R50 for students per show.

To find out more about the Durban Fashion Fair, log on to www.durbanfashionfair.com, visit official facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/DurbanFashionFair or / or Twitter https://twitter.com/DbnFashionFair.

ENDS

For more information please contact Thabo Mofokeng on 031 311 4820/ 0827317456 or email: Thabo1.mofokeng@durban.gov.za.

Issued by the eThekwini Municipality's Communications Unit. Contact Sane Shandu on 031 311 4806/072 572 8658 or email: Sanelisiwe.Shandu@durban.gov.za

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