First of all, can we talk about how quickly this year is flying by? It feels like I’ve spent most of 2026 playing an endless game of catch-up!
Yet here we are, right in the heart of the year, which means one thing for South African fashion lovers: it’s time for our very own horse-racing and fashion spectacle – the Hollywoodbets Durban July (HDJ) 🐎
This year’s theme, Country Allure, challenged designers to explore the romance, beauty, and charm of country-inspired fashion. As expected, my students rose to the occasion and did not disappoint.Drawing inspiration from the breathtaking beauty of South Africa’s countryside, they translated everything from golden sunsets to rolling grasslands into striking fashion statements. The result? A collection of looks that were both creative and deeply rooted in the landscapes that surround us.
A special shout-out goes to the incredible INSCAPE Durban fashion students who worked tirelessly to bring their visions to life: Joy Tjatji, Mbali Nqiwa, Leah John, Yusra Chohan, and Owethu Shandu — collectively known as The Dream Chasers 🔊
What makes their achievement even more remarkable is that the Durban July Young Designer Award (YDA) brief is currently not part of our academic curriculum. This means that every sketch, pattern, fitting, and stitch was completed in addition to their existing coursework. Creating an entire competition ensemble while balancing academic responsibilities is no small feat, yet they embraced the challenge with determination and enthusiasm.
Their commitment was further evident in their participation in our Fashion Sleepover, where they willingly invested additional hours refining concepts, solving design challenges, and pushing their creativity even further. That’s the kind of passion that cannot be taught – only nurtured 🔥
One lesson life continues to teach us is that success is built on dedication, consistency, and resilience. While none of The Dream Chasers were shortlisted for the YDA this year, this is by no means the end of their story. Rather, it is an opportunity to strengthen their resilience, refine their craft, and continue moving forward.
A big shoutout to Shani Prince, who captured these beautiful images! This competition marked the very first fashion competition for all five students – making it the beginning of what I believe will be many exciting milestones and victories to come 🤩
It was also inspiring to witness the diverse interpretations of Country Allure presented by fashion students from across KwaZulu-Natal. The competition has evolved tremendously since my own student days, and it is encouraging to see the platform continue to create opportunities for emerging designers.
A heartfelt congratulations to all the participants, finalists, and winners, as well as the stakeholders who continue to keep this initiative alive and thriving.
And so, with gratitude and inspiration, we bid farewell to HDJ YDA 2026…
Until next year – same time, same dream-chasing spirit 🥂
