It is also the first time that an African university has registered for this competition. However, without financial support Bianca will sadly not be able to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The Arts of Fashion Foundation, is a non-profit organization dedicated to international cultural exchanges through a variety of events. There were more than 330 applicants from 96 fashion schools and universities and from 32 different countries this year. The first round panel selected 58 projects in fashion and seven in accessories.
"It is such a great honour being selected on an international platform. I feel that it is a huge opportunity... and I would love to see my creations come to life on the runway in San Francisco.
"I am so proud to be representing NMMU but also South Africa as their only finalist. It makes me excited about the things to come," says Bianca. She matriculated from York High School in George.
BTech fashion design students are required to enter an international design/fashion competition as part of their fourth-year studies.
Bianca applied online for the competition earlier in May. She received an e-mail a few weeks later congratulating her as a finalist. She was not only invitedto the event but also to an educational fashion symposium held at the same time in October/November this year.
NMMU fashion design lecturer Gina Esterhuizen says the opportunity for Bianca to visit San Francisco and meet the other international contestants will be inestimable.
"We just hope that a financial solution will present itself for her to present NMMU at this auspicious occasion."
The competition fashion show will take place during the Arts of Fashion Symposium in San Francisco from Friday, 28 October, to 1 November.
Visit www.arts-of-fashion.org to see Bianca’s designs.
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Great Brak resident and fourth year NMMU BTech fashion design student, Bianca Boshoff, hopes to head to San Francisco and see her designs paraded on the catwalk.
