The Vodacom Durban July will go ahead behind closed doors as planned on Saturday, 25 July as a broadcast-only event live on SuperSport 4 and SuperSport 10 from 13:00 to 16:00.
This ever so popular horse-racing event prepares to thrill fans and fashionistas with a new spin on its 2020 version of the iconic race. It will be the first major horse-racing event and the first Vodacom sponsored event to be hosted since the beginning of lockdown. The racing and fashion line-up includes the thrill of a nationwide design competition, support for local small businesses that have been affected by COVID-19, and daily data prizes in the build-up to race day.
The official 2020 Vodacom Durban July fashion theme is ‘Butterflies’, reflecting the social butterflies who are still managing to #StayConnected to their passion for fashion during nationwide lockdown. “This year’s Vodacom Durban July is going to showcase a bold new vision as fans of this incredible event can still #StayConnected to their passion but also #StaySafe at this time. Fashion is all about a different way of looking at the world, so this year we’re taking a totally different view of the Vodacom Durban July and bringing this event to the people in a unique new way,” said Chris Lazarus, Managing Executive for Vodacom KwaZulu Natal.
Vodacom challenges all aspiring designers, artists, seamstresses and anyone with a creative eye to enter the mask design competition. The only design criteria are that the new glam fashion masks must include the ‘Butterfly’ theme. Aspiring designers can submit their version of the most talked-about fashion accoutrement of 2020 via Instagram and Twitter with the hashtags #VDJ2020 and #StayConnected.
Entries can be already completed masks or mock-ups of masks, and will be judged by a panel of leading Vodacom Durban July influencers, including Rina Chunga of Ri.Ch Factory, drag queen Baba Ganoosh, celebrity makeup artists Nomsa Madida and Diva Cadach, fashionistas Melody Molale and Nolusindiso Mchunu, celebrity stylist Krayzi_k (Tshiamo Modisane) and actor Kay Sibiya.
Entries will close at 15:00 on 23 July and the winners will be announced before the main race on 25 July 2020.
As “Do It Again” races for honors and a possible hat-trick of Vodacom Durban July titles, the country’s mask designers will be competing for their own prize pool of R10 000 for first place, R5 000 for second place and R2 500 for third place. But there’s something for everyone in the build-up to this year’s Vodacom Durban July, with daily lucky draws of 5GB Vodacom data to be won.
Vodacom will also provide a major platform for some of KwaZulu-Natal’s emerging designers and will select four local, female-led small design businesses who have been identified by Durban Fashion Fair, to create and produce 400 masks, which will be donated to the most vulnerable people of Durban to help keep them safe during this pandemic.
These emerging designers will partner with the Vodacom Durban July influencers to collaborate on the design of a mask and showcase their talent as well as their business on all of Vodacom’s platforms and those of the influencers, giving a much-needed boost to small business during these unprecedented times.
Channel O will be hosting the official pre-party on Friday, 24 July from 20:00 to 00:00 and an after-party on Saturday, 25 July from 18:00 to 00:00. All in accordance with government regulations and health protocols.
The butterfly effect of this year’s Vodacom Durban July is bound to keep the pulses racing with a historic edition of Africa’s Greatest Horse-racing event.
