Rauna Ndeilenga is making big moves in the fashion world.
The creative force behind the fashion brand ‘Nandii Martin’ this week made it to the top five designers of the Rocking the Daisies Festival Fashion Talent Search.
Last week, the top 12 were selected, and the public could vote to get them closer to the top spot.
The five who received the most votes will now get to showcase their work at the festival in Cape Town in October.
Ndeilenga says love for fashion blossomed about 12 years ago when she stumbled upon a sewing machine in her mother’s storage room at Walvis Bay.
Since launching her first collection in 2019 at Windhoek Fashion Week, where she debuted five distinctive garments, Ndeilenga has continued to evolve her craft and develop her own signature fashion brand.
It can normally be described as chic, casual and bordering on haute couture.
Ndeilenga’s latest achievement with Rocking the Daisies, a well-known music and lifestyle festival in South Africa, highlights her growing involvement in the global fashion world and the unique vision she brings to the fashion industry.
Rocking the Daisies will feature performances by Nasty C, Shekinah, Musa Keys, Mi Casa and others over three days.
But it is not just about music and camping, as there’s also usually a great display and celebration of creativity and individuality.
The festival’s design competition this year offers a few emerging designers the platform to express themselves and show a broad audience their talent, according to the organisers.
This year, the event’s theme is ‘In The Stars’, which has inspired a celestial fusion of nature and cosmic elements in many of the entries.
The winning designer stands to walk away with a R20 000 prize and an internship with South African fashion brand GalxBoy.
Ndeilenga’s collection for the competition perfectly embodies this theme, capturing the ethereal beauty of the stars and the natural world.
“Our collection for Rocking the Daisies embodies a fusion of ethereal and bold aesthetics,” she explains.
“Each design is crafted to reflect both the festival’s vibrant energy and a celestial theme, bringing the cosmos down to earth through fashion.”
Her work features structured silhouettes paired with flowing fabrics, intricate floral patterns and a captivating interplay of metallics and organic shapes in yellows and blues.
This combination speaks volumes about her creative direction and the message she wishes to convey.
“We aimed to create a collection that is both visually striking and deeply symbolic,” Ndeilenga notes.
“The juxtaposition of dark, cosmic elements with light, floral motifs symbolises the balance of inner strength and outer beauty.”
Through her designs, Ndeilenga seeks to empower individuals and encourage them to embrace their uniqueness with confidence.
She says designs like these speak to those who are not afraid to stand out.
Her sketches not only highlight her technical skills and artistic vision, but also her deep understanding of the transformative power of fashion.
As Ndeilenga continues to carve out her place in this massive industry, her participation in Rocking the Daisies marks a significant milestone in her journey, and is also a major win for local fashion.
– Anne Hambuda is a poet, writer and social commentator. Follow her online or email her at annehambuda@gmail.com for more.
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