Definitely an interesting observation by the author of this article, but his "perhaps because I'm not in it, I can see more clearly from the outside" view is the problem with half the content in the article.

There's a fine line to tread I imagine from the organisers point of view, that of balancing new and emerging talent (which Durban Fashion Week is in relation to the other ones in SA), and that of putting commercially viable talent down the runway. As someone who attends all the 5 major events across South Africa every year, I think I'm better guided to offer an insight that Arthur in his rush to sensationalise has clearly missed.

I've watched Durban Fashion Week mature, and there was certainly no shortage of new talent down the ramp this year. Infact everything from the first show, through to the last was new talent. But lets take this further, each of these designers had the opportunity to present their stuff at the buyers lounge I observed in the Press Room, and from chatting to the organisers, there is a dedicated person to developing these people. Lets take this even further and look at the seminars (no cost, info widely available) that were available to all aspiring designers, and the first step into the glamourous world of the fashion week.

Building a fashion brand is way beyond simply having a show at Durban Fashion Week, it's years of legwork, hard graft and blood on the ground marketing new channels, developing ranges constantly, and if you're any good (the schools are just pumping out fashion grads) perhaps you'll stand out and can be part of the showcase.

As someone involved with the media, I've noticed the huge uptake in images from these designers, who get just as much page space as the established designers that showed (Gavin Rajah, Karen Monk Klijnstra, Carducci, etc), and these established designers are required to add the seal of approval to the event in a way.