Fashion

Meet Durban Fashion Fair’s Model Trainers

Phumeza Gcaba November 10, 2020

1 minute read

Passion has not only driven Khwezi and Stanley to doing what they love, but it has also led them to being game changers in the modeling Industry, What could be better than training and inspiring the younger generation of models?

Stanley Okwulieaku, originally from Nigeria, is a Durban-based media practitioner who is married with two kids. He started off as a restaurant manager at Man must work Africa Restaurant in Durban and got selected by Ice models. Stanley is fully involved in cooking and is planning to open his catering business after lockdown. He works with the Durban Fashion Fair models on a part-time basis, sharing and teaching them from his experience as a model.

Khwezi Ngwenya Ntombela, also married with two kids, started modeling in 2006. She has freelanced as a model for several international brands throughout her career, even doing some free gigs. She didn’t mind not getting paid because she was doing what she loved. she has done campaigns in Durban, Durban July. In March 2020, Khwezi started her own modeling academy.

Khwezi and Stanley created a platform where the ramp can accommodate all shapes, sizes and different heights. Working with the Durban Fashion Fair, they are giving many inspiring and upcoming models a chance to saunter on the walkway. Participating in the training sessions is such a beautiful thing to witness and most importantly the smiles and joy the models have when doing what they love is breathtaking. In a world full of insecurities, the DFF team has put together an amazing platform!

READ ALSO: Durban Fashion Fair Mentees Take Big Strides In Shaping Their Careers

Becoming Model trainers

The pair started working as trainers with the DFF after numerous requests by a number of people asking them to train models. “The journey has been an interesting and remarkable one working with these models,” Stanley shared.

Durban’s Fashion & Modelling Industry

Durban and KwaZulu Natal as a whole is loaded with remarkable talent of fashion designers. The fashion trends have grown over the years and a lot is yet to be unleashed in this province.

Favorite Local Designers

Responding with a face lit up with glee, Kwenzi states that she loves Indoni fashion house, Zarth, Mumsy, Afrolicious, Kireshen Cherry, duke among many other creative local brands.

Covid-19 & the Fashion Industry

“The pandemic has affected all of us in ways where we couldn’t work, couldn’t attend events that bring food to the table. There were no gigs at all that kept us going,” Khwezi expressed. Stanley has started creating and selling Nigerian food dish since the lockdown started to make extra cash, the business has run smoothly to an extent where he wants to extend his services.