It is the season for fashion in South Africa! The annual Durban July event is back under a new partnership with Hollywood Bets! Previously referred to as the Vodacom Durban July, the Hollywoodbets Durban July takes place annually on the first weekend of July. This year it’s back live after it has been held behind closed doors for two years in a row due to Covid-19. The event is held at the Thoroughbred horse race track – Greyville Race Course in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
In its 126th edition, the prestigious horse racing event prides itself on accommodating guests from all walks of life. High fashion is synonymous with the Hollywoodbets Durban July, and guests consistently go all out, as there are lots at stake. It is Africa’s greatest horse racing event after all. Here are some of the hottest looks from the 2022 live installment of the races.
Theme: Show me the honey!
Nandi Madida
Ayanda Thabethe
Phupho Gumede
Pabi Cooper
Mzukisi Mbane
Natalie Hlahla
Thuli Phongolo
Linda Mtoba
Nkocy Majola
Vanessa Padi
Sithelo Shozi
Ayanda MVP
Jessica Nkosi
A big part of the Hollywoodbets Durban July event is the fashion show, which takes place during the event. The point of the show is to highlight the talent from fashion colleges in the province. There are three prizes to be won, The grand prize for the ultimate 1st place winner, then there’s the 2nd and 3rd prize.
Winner – Best young designer at HDJ 2022
Ismael Mchunu from the Durban University of Technology was crowned the winner of the 2022 Hollywoodbets Durban July Young Designer Award presented by the Durban Fashion Fair. Mchunu used the 2022 theme, ‘Show Me the Honey’ to focus on the flowers bees pollinate and further cited the flower bud as his inspiration.
“For me, the theme was all about being sweet, so my inspiration was the flower bud and the concept was the beauty inside the bud of the flower when it is open,” Mchunu said.
This designer wins $3000 in bursary support from the Hollywood Foundation. He also wins a trip to the SA Fashion Week in October and more cash prizes courtesy of Hollywoodbets and their sponsors. The 2 other winners, second and third-placed students bagged $1800 and $1200 from the Hollywood Foundation to support the remainder of their studies.
Do you think these looks are giving “show me the honey”? Let us know on our socials.
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