BTech fashion design student Bianca Boshoff (22) has been selected to participate in 10th Arts of Fashion Competition – the Premier International Fashion Student Competition in San Francisco, USA, later this year.
It is also the first time that an African university has registered for this competition. However, without financial support Bianca – who hails from Great Brak River – will sadly not be able to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The Arts of Fashion Foundation received more than 330 applicants from 96 fashion schools and universities and from 32 different countries this year. The first round jury selected 58 projects in fashion and seven in accessories.
“It is such a great honour being selected on an international platform. I feel that it is a huge opportunity, not only for me but also for the university and I would love to see my creations come to life on the runway in San Francisco.
“I am so proud to be representing NMMU but also South Africa as their only finalist. It makes me excited about the things to come,” says Bianca, who matriculated from York High School in George.
BTech fashion design students are required to enter an international design/fashion competition as part of their fourth-year design studies. There are usually two competitions from which fashion students can choose. However, this year NMMU lecturers searched for a new competition – the “arts-of-fashion”.
Bianca applied online for the competition earlier in May. She received an e-mail a few weeks later congratulating her as a finalist and inviting her not only to the event but also to an educational fashion symposium held at the same time in October/November this year.
“The results of this competition once again prove that NMMU students are rated as world-class designers. Separated from the fashion capitals, we sometimes lament our isolation and access to fashion and textile resources in the Eastern Cape, but lately our students’ results in international competitions have irrevocably proven that we can do it irrespective of where we are,” says NMMU fashion design lecturer Gina Esterhuizen.
Gina says the opportunity for Bianca to visit San Francisco and meet the other international contestants was inestimable.
“We just hope that a financial solution will present itself for her to present NMMU at this auspicious occasion.”
The Competition Fashion Show will take place on 1 November 2011 during the Arts of Fashion Symposium in San Francisco from Friday, 28 October, 28 to 1 November 2011.
Alan Straton
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