Africa’s most popular horse-racing event, Vodacom Durban July has been scheduled for Saturday 5th July at Greyville Racecourse in Durban. The event usually attracts revelers from all corners of Southern Africa, Botswana included and according to Keba Dibe of TRL Travel American Express , they are anticipating to host 54 Batswana in Durban.
“We have 54 packages which we are currently selling to Batswana. This package like last year’s package, is highly subsidized by Tourism Kwazulu Natal (TKZN). The only difference is that air travel will be from Gaborone to Johannesburg where by upon arrival in Johannesburg, we shall connect by VIP’s Loliwe train unlike last year where the flight was direct from Gaborone to Durban, ” Dibe explained, further hinting that the response to the packages has so far been good, something she said proved that Batswana were indeed lifestyle people.
Following the announcement that the fashion theme for this year is “The Big Screen,” some of the local designers are gathering movie-themed fashion inspiration from all over the globe, foretelling fashionistas that July 5th will be a day filled with movie magic and sophisticated glamour with Bollywood, Hollywood and Nollywood as the underlying themes.
Local designer Mpho Kuaho, who is also attending the event, is designing for a couple of people she preferred not to disclose. “This would be my second time gracing Durban July and I mostly look forward to the high fashion, networking and benchmarking. I also have fashion forward clients up my sleeve to design clothes for that are in line with this year’s theme-style; sophistication and timeless elegant red carpet wear! I would also be designing my own gown and I am going to go all out!’ she said.
Mothusi Lesolle of iZaura also revealed that he knows people who will be attending the event whom he will design clothes for.
Meanwhile, Fashion Programme Director of the Vodacom Durban July, Tiffany Prior recently told a South African publication to be wary not to take the theme too far. The style guru warned not to come dressed as a movie character but to rather subtly interpret the theme “Research and interpret what you love about a certain character, movie, or era of movies. It should then be very easy to dress appropriately for race day,” said Prior.