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WINNING at the Vodacom Durban July has inspired local designer Nkosi Mhlungu (32) from Imbali Unit BB to further his dreams even more as he now wants to open a retail store. Mhlungu won the Classic Racewear-Men’s category at the 2018 event.
Speaking to Echo, Mhlungu said it was his third time entering the Vodacom Durban July competition. He said that, for the past two years, he has been entering the Most Striking Couple competition and even made it to the top 10. He said he was very excited and shocked when he was announced as a winner, especially because it was his first time entering that particular category.
“I had faith, a lot of faith, that I would win. You need to be hopeful every time, especially if you are at the top 10.To be honest, it was an unbelievable moment but I am very grateful that I won,” he said.
Mhlungu’s break into the fashion world dates back to when he was a teenager.
“My love and talent for fashion developed when I finished high school. I then decided to enrol at the Pietermaritzburg School of Fashion and Design to learn more. Since then, I never looked back. I now own a label called Crazy Urban.”
“I have always been fascinated by fashion, ever since I was a child. Before I started designing fashionable clothes, I started designing T-shirts that had the words “PMB I live there do you?” on them. That is when I decided to pursue a career in designing because people started to ask me to design different things for them.
“I have been in the fashion industry for eight years and it is not easy if you do not have funding or a proper place to work from. My dream is to open a retail store for Pietermaritzburg people,” he said.
