Hollywoodbets Durban July Media Release

6 July 2024

Embargo : None

by Heidi Gibson

Young Designer's passion for fashion wins him the award

Durban – Krishan Ramdewu, the winner of the Young Designer Award presented by Durban Fashion Fair was ‘totally and utterly taken by surprise’ to hear that he had won the prestigious fashion competition that forms part of Africa’s Greatest Horse Race – the Hollywoodbets Durban July on Saturday.

A second-year student of the Pietermaritzburg’s School of Fashion, Krishan’s interpretation of this year’s theme ‘Ride the Wave’ saw him print a coral design on poly-twill fabric and then add squirls of different colours along a fold in the dress, and create a hat and shoes – all of which won him the title at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on Saturday.

“I sprayed actual coral that my parents brought back from Mauritius in the hat, and also had some place mats that I attached to the back of the shoes that I also covered in my special fabric,” said Krishan.

“I always knew that I had a passion for fashion as I always wanted to be the best dressed – even when we went to a family occasion I would add on something spectacular to make me stand out,” he said.

At 35-years old, this fashion fundi already has two degrees under his hat – a marketing and IT degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and a financial accounting degree from Varsity College. Ramdewu walked away with a R50 000 bursary, R10 000 in cash compliments of Gold Circle and Schweppes and a R5 000 gift card courtesy of Gateway Theatre of Shopping. He will also attend the South African Fashion week in Johannesburg with all expenses paid courtesy of Gold Circle and SA fashion week.

Hollywoodbets Foundation public relations officer Vuyisile Ngobese said that the contribution made by the Foundation in prizes goes towards assisting the winner and their parents – especially those that can’t afford to pay the fees. “It acts as much-needed relief from this financial burden,” she said.

Second prize winner from DUT was Olwethu Payi, whose creation captured the judge’s attention. Payi will receive a R30 000 bursary towards paying off her student loan or for future study funding, R3 000 in cash compliments of Gold Circle and Schweppes and a R2 000 gift card from Gateway Theatre of shopping.

In third position was Siphesihle Mkhize from Umgingindlovu TVET College student, with his model Sibusiso Dladla. He will walk away with R20 000 from the Hollywood Foundation, R2 000 in cash compliments of Gold Circle and Schweppes and a R1 000 gift card from the Gateway Theatre of Shopping.

The Pietermaritzburg School of Fashion will also receive R30 000 grant from Gold Circle to be used to support the programme and structures in place to assign the fashion design students.

More information can be found at https://www.hollywoodbetsdurbanjuly.co.za/ 

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