The final

Triumph Inspiration Award fashion show gallery on Women24

Women24 followed the journey of our 22 finalists from sketches to catwalk presentation, while votes poured in as readers voted for their pick for the Beijing final. To see the transformation from design to finished garment at the fashion show finale, click here http://www.women24.com/Women24/FashionBeauty/NewsTrends/Article/0,,1-7-163_18818,00.html

Video blog episode 4

Young Cape Town designer set to wow Triumph Inspiration Award in Beijing

Avant-garde young designer from Cape Town, Petro Nieuwoudt, won the Triumph Inspiration Award in South Africa at an edgy fashion event in Cape Town last night and will represent South Africa at the international event in Beijing in July with her black panelled ensemble.

The winners are as follows:
1st. Petra Nieuwoudt, Cape Peninsula University of Technology
2nd. Megan Perks, Cape Peninsula University of Technology
3rd. Suné Venter, Tshwane University of Technology

Photographs from the Triumph Inspiration Award in Cape Town are accessible at http://fashion.sdr.co.za/08triumphaward

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South African finalist from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology: Eileen Booysen

Eileen Booysen is a design student at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, and one of the South African finalists in the 2008 Triumph Inspiration Awards. Encouraged by family and friends to pursue a career in fashion design, Booysen constantly challenges her creativity by exploring innovative design concepts as she prepares to enter the world of fashion design.

Booysen says that the key to success in this highly competitive industry is finding the balance between originality and commercial appeal. Fashion needs to connect with the relevant target markets on a personal level, ensuring that your garment goes from nice-to-have to need-to-have.

Seeing the Triumph Inspiration Award as a high profile competition offering local emerging talent a platform to shine in the international arena, Booysen couldn’t pass up the opportunity. Putting her mind on the challenge, Booysen began thinking about the theme “female fascination” and what it meant to her. Trying to encapsulate the essence of a woman in her design and all the elements that bring out the best in us, Booysen based her design on memories – all of the moments in our lives that essentially make us the people that we are today. Taking this idea even further, Booysen’s design focuses on childish innocence and the fond memories we all have growing up. Booysen believes that texture and fabric is what sets her design apart, making her lingerie unique and special.

Having an appreciation for many different designers, Booysen says that she aspires to make her mark next to those who choose the road less traveled. Designers who take risks and constantly push the boundaries of design creativity.

Video Blog episode 2

South African finalist from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University: Elizabeth Faber

Elizabeth Faber is a design student at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, and one of the South African finalists in the 2008 Triumph International Inspiration Awards. Spending every spare minute during high school scribbling designs on any sheet of paper she could get her hands on, Faber’s passion grew with each passing day. The journey from design concept to holding the finished product in her hands feeds her inspiration, excited by every step of the process.

Faber says that the key to a show stopping design is subtlety, with garments designed to flatter the figure. Determined to bring originality and creativity to the fashion table, Faber focuses on the detail and aspects of clothing that she loves – flares, gathers and beautiful necklines.

Nature is Faber’s greatest source of design inspiration, offering a vast array of colours and contrasts. When putting pencil to paper, all you need to do is look at the natural beauty of world - from sunrise to sunset and the blossoming mornings to star studded nights.

When Faber’s lecturer informed the class that the Triumph Inspiration Awards would be incorporated into their third year creative portfolio at University, her imagination went into overdrive. Determined to give it her all, Faber thought about what elements would make her lingerie design stand out. In keeping with her design style, Faber’s garment is classic and timeless with a hint of sophistication. Incorporating a youthful flare making a statement about who you are and what you want, combined with a mature element of grace. As with all Faber’s designs, the overriding element being on emphasising the natural beauty within. Faber hopes to gain exposure from the Triumph Inspiration Awards, and to start making her mark in the industry.

Faber is inspired by international designer Isabella Capeto, saying that Capeto’s designs show a true understanding of the words: woman, girl, pretty, cute, stunning and flowing. On a local level, Faber looks up to Malcolm Kluk and Christiaan Gabriel du Toit. Honoured to have completed a two month internship with these acclaimed designers, Faber learnt invaluable lessons about the industry and what it takes to really make it in the fashion business.

Vlog Episode 1

This week

The local media are starting to pick-up on the national finals of the Inspiration Awards following the annoucement of the finalists. Check out this article from iafrica.com Triumph Backs Local Fashion Talent. We spent the afternoon at CPUT in Cape Town yesterday filming some of the finalists. This is for a series of video blogs we're doing to show the behind the scenes action in the lead up to finals in May. It was pretty interesting to see the vastly different design concepts coming out of these guys: from Ancient Egypt to metallic futurism via little house on the prairie. The videos should be up early next week...

It's getting hot in here

The brits have announced their finalists - and the competition is starting to look pretty fierce... St Martins College in London produced some edgy work. In an article on the competition (legendary fashion writer) Hilary Alexander describes the UK finalists as very directional and avant -garde. The winning design "velocity" was made from clear plastic and latex "with overlaid with a ‘road map’ leotard and leggings in scarlet stretch".

The full article is here: "Speeding Bra on it's way to Beijing" from the Daily Telegraph

Finalist profile: Sune Venter, Tshwane University

Suné Venter is a design student at the Tshwane University of Technology, and one of the South African finalists in the 2008 Triumph International Inspiration Awards. Her passion for both fashion and design gives her motivation and drive as she prepares to enter this fast pace and highly competitive industry. Venter’s approach to design is with her heart leading the way – it needs to feel right. Her aim is for each garment to be a reflection of the kind of person she is, with an end result that leaves people feeling both comfortable and beautiful.

Being an extremely fussy lingerie shopper herself, the Inspiration Awards presented an ideal opportunity for her to tailor make the type of lingerie she would like to find in stores. Her design is inspired by the sweet and shy, yet sexy and seductive cartoon character Betty Boop, combined with the calmness, beauty and unpredictability of nature. The international global warming phenomenon contributed greatly to her colour selection – after all, green is the new black! Venter’s design is intended to make women feel sexy and desirable, oozing femininity and beauty. The garment makes a statement that is dramatic and mysterious. Light and delicate on the skin, Venter’s lingerie will fit like a glove.

With her eye on the prize, Venter is here to learn and grow. She hopes to take away from the Inspiration Awards further insight into the business of lingerie and the fashion industry as a whole. Her long term goal is to have her garments in all of the top lingerie stores across the world.

Venter is inspired by local designers Abigail Betz and Gavin Rajah. Betz for her simplistic, vintage designs and textured fabrics. Rajah for his stylish garments that epitomize true elegance. On the international stage, Venter looks to Roberto Cavalli for inspiration, his great use of colours and designs that make every women look and feel beautiful.

Singapore's GI Jane inspired award winner

There are 30 countries taking part in the Inspiration Awards and over the next two months national finals will be held across the globe. South Africa's will take place on Weds May 7th in Cape Town. The first international one we've come across is Singapore. The winner chose the rather leftfield inspiration of GI Jane (not Demi Moore's finest hour possibly) but the design looks pretty interesting. Check out the full story here.

Pre-selection of the South African Inspiration Award finalists is now complete!

Following a countrywide call to entry to leading fashion design academys, finalists from three institutions have been selected to carry forward their designs to a finished product to compete at the national final. The final will take place on the 7th May in Cape Town in front of an audience of fashion industry experts and media. One lucky finalist will then go on to compete in the international final in Beijing later in July. Over the next few weeks we'll be following the progress of the finalists as they work on the designs and giving you a behind the scenes peek at this exciting competition. Good luck to all the finalists!