Nosipho Bhengu

The annual Vodacom Durban July event, usually held at the Greyville Racecourse, has become a highly anticipated event by many people in South Africa. This gathering is aimed at celebrating the horse racing culture and also brings entertainment such as fashion and food.

However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown regulations, the Durban Municipality has decided to make it virtual this year to avoid large gatherings.

Kwenzi Nkomo, a fashion designer who will be showcasing her designs at the fashion fair, said that she is excited about the event because she hasn’t been able to create any collection ever since the year started because there haven’t been any shows.

“The Durban Fashion Fair (DFF) pays us as designers to showcase our work, so at least that is something positive because the purpose of making clothes is also to get paid,” said Nkomo.

Image by: Simon Deiner / SDR Photo

As a businesswoman, Nkomo said she has been having difficulties with money because many of her clients aren’t buying the clothes as much as before because they aren’t going to any special events that require a special outfit.

“Besides being able to showcase at the main stage and being paid for it, Vodacom has also given us masks to create for a competition which we will be paid to design, that is something we needed especially at this hard financial time, so I am very grateful for that,” she said.

Picture: Candiese Lenferna (IOL Sunday Tribune)