I’m excited to share the incredible time I had and the raw talent I witnessed at the HBDJ Fashion Experience. First things first, HBDJ stands for HollywoodBets Durban July. Yes, the Durban July has a new alias, bringing the event to an entirely new level!
The fashion experience I attended was on Wednesday, 19 June 2024, hosted by the Gateway Theatre of Shopping (Gateway). It offered a glimpse of what to expect at this year’s Durban July (fashion-wise) as the top 25 contestants of the HBDJ Young Designers Award showcased their work to the audience and a panel of judges, who then selected the top 10 finalists.
The HBDJ Young Designer Award is a prestigious honour bestowed upon a local fashion student whose creation captures the judges’ hearts. This year’s prizes are extraordinary, with the top three winners receiving a mix of bursary/student loan payments, a generous cash prize, and a shopping voucher courtesy of the event’s host.
The final winners will be announced at the Durban July. I genuinely enjoyed the atmosphere of the event, which felt like a fabulous girls’ night out. The music was enjoyable (albeit a bit outdated), the food looked great (though it was only for sponsors), and the talented designers did not disappoint.
What I love about fashion is that it embraces diverse tastes. Even though there were some looks I wasn’t fond of, my three favourite looks were by Nontsikelelo Godlo, Balungile Ndlovu and Olwethu Payi. Check them all out HERE and pick your faves!
The Young Designer Award has come a long way since before my time as a fashion student and continues to improve. I made the top 25 semi-finalists in my year, and it was a magical night. I want to congratulate this year’s finalists and encourage the semi-finalists to keep pursuing their fashion dreams – the world is your oyster!
