Glitz, glamour, bright colours and fabric were all showcased at the third annual Buyel’Ekhaya fashion show which took place at Hemingways Mall on Friday evening.
The fashion show formed part of the annual Buyel’Ekhaya Pan African Music Festival, now celebrating a decade of gracing East London with famous musical talent.
Buyel’Ekhaya founder Nomahlubi Mazwai said the aim of the fashion show was to bring developed designers to collaborate with new designers so they may be exposed to the industry.
“This fashion show is the highlight of the festival and I’m proud of it. This initiative belongs to the community,” Mazwai said.
She added that the workshop the designers parttake in also allows them to network and take initiative so they may grow themselves.
Walter Sisulu University fashion design graduate Onke Ludidi said learning from being a mentee under international fashion couturier Gert-Johan Coetzee was “an experience of a lifetime”.
“The six months I spent as Gert’s initiate was an eye-opener and I’m so proud of my collection. Fashion isn’t easy, you must have passion but understand that it’s a business,” Ludidi said.
For Coetzee, being a mentor for this group of rising stars was an enormous privilege.
“There was a lot of blood, sweat and tears that went it to this and they are enourmously talented. They’ve also learnt about business and marketing themselves,” Coetzee said.
He added that one has to “be passionate” and try their best to to expose themselves to mentorship programs and that this showcase of fashion designers can only get bigger and better.
Participating designers Thandolwethu Piliso, Unathi Kweyi and Nozibele Nyembe will also showcase their unique designs at SA Fashion Week in March 2019.
