Flamboyant fashionistas flash past in front of you

STANLEY Street restaurant patrons were treated to a fashion flash mob at the weekend, publicising a show of creative student designs to be held at Fairview Race Course in May.

The “secret show” saw 18 models stationed at five restaurants on the “strip” – Salt, Buenos, SoHo, Cafe Rouge and Zorba’s.

The next step was for them to venture out to sashay up and down showing off the fashions – and provide a chance for patrons to catch the show on camera.

Many appreciative restaurant goers stood up, left their tables to get the best view, and cheered on the models. Theo Klaas, organiser of the Friday evening event, said the evening was “amazing” although even the models did not know ahead of the event what they would be doing.

“We wanted to get people talking about what we are doing, and it worked,” he said.

The promotional show flagged the second annual NMMU design and textile department fashion show.

It will take place at Fairview on Sunday May 11 as part of a varied derby day programme starting on Friday May 9 with charity race day in aid of the Community Chest.

“The main purpose is to introduce another element that has always been part of horse racing and we are also planning on growing bigger every year,” said Phumelela Gaming promotions manager Karin le Roux.

She said the designs shown on Friday night were “stunning”, and just a foretaste of what would be on show on race day. The students will design under the theme Art at the Races, as part of their 2014 curriculum, NMMU design and textile director Harm Grobbelaar said.

“We are very happy about the project and the excitement it brings to the students. It makes sense for all of us to be involved in something like this for our region and support it,” Grobbelaar said.

Each student will dress two models and express their creativity through media ranging from headgear to body paint, while competing for several prizes.