The Durban ICC will be transformed into a world of fashion when the seventh annual Durban Fashion Fair begins on September 19-22.

The four-day event will kick off with its theme being AfroFuturism which forms part of the main Durban Business Fair. 

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Durban Business Fair, eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede is thrilled to have the city hosting over 40 designers, many local fashion talents, invited designers as well as nine creatives from the African continent, who will all be showcasing their creations at the #DFF2018

Wondering which designers will be showcasing? Here is the list;

Sept 19 – 2018 DFF Mentees (18:00); Markham (19:00); Mo’ Creations & Couture (Zambia); Eve-O (Zimbabwe); Modesta (20:00); Palse and Duke – Clothe Your Soul (21:00)

Sept 20 – Emerging designers are as follows: Cherish by Carita Adams; Whimzical by Black Bear Kouture; Emerikay; Emmanuel Titito; Indoni Fashion House; Martin John; Maurice Hozi; Messrs Basswood; Vyagor Louvre; Thandeka Madikizela; (18:00) Azee Tanzi; Mita-N Dzyns; MorQ Designs by Warren Morck (19:00); Yordi Designs (Ethiopia); Rodrig Couture (Cameroon); Jacqui Emmanuel (20:00); Amanda Laird Cherry/ALC (21:00); Diva Designs by Brenda Quin; Noice (22:00).

Sept 21 – LT Peculiar Couture (Gaborone); Nivaldo Thierry (Mozambique) (18:00) Samma Collections (Burundi); Clemas Couture (Nigeria); House of Saint Luke (19:00); Eullue and KarenMonkKlijnstra (20:00); Quame Owusu (Ghana) and Chulaap (21:00); Treasure Cindi and Zarth (22:00).

Sept 22 – Zaviar Fashions; Plus Supreme Collections; Black Pepper (19:00); DFF Fashion Recognition Awards (20:00).

2017 New face model winners Samkelo Shinga (left) and Samantha Jali (right) are ready for the seventh annual #DFF2018. Image: Senzo Ntuli 

There will also be a discussion around the ‘business of fashion’ with an interactive panel discussion in the ICC’s Hall 1 on Friday, September 21, this will feature leading industry players within the fashion related industry – Sasha Wyatt-Minter the editor of all for women; Dimeji Alara the fashion director for ELLE South Africa; Masana Chikeka the Program Manager for Design at the National Department of Arts and Culture; Nthato Mashishi the celebrity make-up artist and Mandy Swart a TFG Buying Manager for Markham.

The panel discussion topic will focus on “Building a brand in the Fashion Industry” followed by a Q&A session – which will be facilitated by TV & Radio personality, Anele Mdoda. The best part is that admission to the panel discussion is free. 

Mdoda will also host the 2018 DFF Recognition Awards on Saturday. 

This fashion-forward evening will recognise the Durban Fashion Legend of the year, the Best Ladies’ Wear Collection, the Best Menswear Collection, the Next Generation/ Emerging Durban Designer of the year, the Fashion Innovator and the Collection of the Week

Guests can also look forward to the Fashion Business Award, the DFF New Faces Award, the Best African Designer Collection Award and, last but not least, the Durban Designer of the Year Award.

Tickets are R100 per person per show with students paying R50 per show for the first three days and for the Recognition Awards (Sept 22), tickets cost R200 per person with students paying R100. Tickets can be purchased on the webtickets website or at your nearest Pick n Pay outlets. 

Follow all the fashion action at our DFF facebook page: Durban Fashion Fair or on Twitter / Instagram @Dbnfashion_fair or #DFF2018.