Designer’s future looks to be set in concrete

An East London teenage designer who created stylish tops for women out of cement will get to exhibit his work in Johannesburg this week.

The awards provide a platform for designers and artists to freely express their creative talents using Portland Cement-based concrete as the primary inspiration or material.

The upcoming designer said he nearly stopped participating in the last phase of the awards after finding out he had to use cement as a medium, but found a way around the challenge.

He took three pieces of wet fabric and mixed them with concrete.

“Then I moulded it on a mannequin in a desired style and allowed it to dry for two days,” he said.

The Port Rex Technical High School pupil’s designs are already in Johannesburg.

Jita found out about the awards last year while researching the Design Indaba, which takes place every year in Cape Town.

“It is one of my ultimate goals to attend the Design Indaba and when I came across the Imaginarium awards I saw an opportunity to do what I love,” he said.

The awards recognise innovation and design in six categories: architecture, film, sculpture, fashion, jewellery and industrial design.

The finalists will exhibit their work in Johannesburg on Thursday this week. Winners will be announced next month in Cape Town and will then exhibit at the Design Indaba. — poliswap@dispatch.co.za