Life@NMMU: Our fashion flagship

Tayla Nguskos's mohair range saw her win two top awards at The Collection Fashion Show

If prospective fashion students ever wanted a yardstick for measuring the worth of a fashion diploma from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), then it's attending the year-end Collective Fashion Show.

Actually, to be fair, attending the show is a pretty good indicator of the merits of our diplomas in photography, interior design or graphic design since the visual outputs of all these students is on display.

And like the NMMU students who attain South African colours, win national competitions or serve society on a voluntary basis, these creative students give us plenty of reason to feel proud.

The usually corporate and tad-neglected Goldfields Auditorium on North Campus gets a marvellous make-over thanks to the talent of the interior design students. This year the venue has a “band-aid” feel because of its “sick” theme.

However, the VIP room paid homage to the scariest night of the year – Halloween – thanks to the timing of this year’s show. Here VIP guests were spoilt with wicked cocktails and other tasty Halloween-themed morsels which were served by even more wicked-looking waitrons. The latter is all thanks to the partnership that NMMU has developed with Mohair South Africa.

But the greatest visual feast was the show itself – the annual Collective Graduate Fashion Show at which our final-year and BTech fashion students display their creativity, and aspirant models “strut their stuff”. (I hate the phrase, but have to admit that’s what many of these young people do, but in the strangest of ways – but that’s another blog all by itself).

The show was compered by comedian Bradley Goldman who added further value with his playful interaction with an appreciative audience (all to kill time as the judging panel deliberated).

Their decision for the fashion students:

Best ranges on show

1. Tayla Nguskos

2. Marissa Kriek

3. Armand Dicker

Best mohair outfits on show

1. Tayla Nguskos

2. Armand Dicker

3. Celeste Swart

But of course these names meant nothing to many in the audience because their fashion range was not visually displayed when their names were called (perhaps, this can be considered in future).

However, word has it that things are changing in the Fashion Department, since these new students will also form part of the foundation year that the fine art, photography and graphic design students already all do when they join the School of Music, Art and Design. (It’s an ideal year to establish where your talents lie and then try to follow your chosen path.)

Enough words from me … these photographs, taken by our students, especially Kelly McIver who provided many of them (thanks Kelly), speak volumes.

Better still will be booking your ticket for next year’s Collective Event.

See you there!

Kudos to all those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. This would not happen without you.