Tramways Building will see dozens of hot-stepping models start rehearsals on Tuesday, October 9 for Nelson Mandela Bay’s third fashion week from October 11 to13.
Up-and-coming designers will flash their flair in street, evening and ready-to-wear on Thursday, Nelson Mandela University students will present their ranges on Friday and regional and established designers will wrap up the ramp shows on Saturday ahead of a Locally Yours market on Sunday.
Mandela Bay Fashion Week founder Llewellyn Williams and his team have been at work behind the scenes for months.
“To celebrate the Nelson Mandela 100, we have partnered with the original creator of the Madiba shirt, Sonwabile, Ndamase,” Williams said. “He will show his new Madiba range that is available in more than 72 Edgars stores nationwide.”
This year also sees a new Fashion Week magazine with a print run of 1,000 copies, and there are prizes for ticket-holders with Renault sponsoring prizes for the best-dressed guests each night, “so dress up and show us your swag,” Williams said.
The inclusion of student designers at the October shows replaces the university’s annual Collective productions, which traditionally were a chance for students to show their creations to the public.
“Our recent partnership with NMU seeks to expose fashion and textile students to the real fashion world,” said Williams.
He said there also was an Amarula textile printing challenge for selected emerging designers.
Bay designers held fittings with their models on Monday and rehearsals start on Tuesday today for a programme that contains the following:
Thursday - Emerging Designers

7pm: Street wear CECE Envy, Ndimbi Clothing, iSkapie Clothing, Libon Lee;
7.45pm: Evening wear J&T Exclusive, Made by M, David Mhlanga;
8.15pm: Ready to wear Savage by Shandre Michaels, Queen M Style;
8.45pm: Amarula Challenge Algene Koeberg, Amanda Knots, Siphelele Ntombeka, Thembani Selani, Carlos Fritz...