“VUT Fashion Design students dominate the 2025 Bernina “Dress Your Style” competition, taking three of five finalist spots and the national first prise for denim innovation.”
21October 2025 | Story By: Nontobeko Moimane| Picture: Supplied.
3 minutes read time.
The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) continues to set benchmarks in fashion education and innovation. This year, Fashion Design students from the Department of Visual Arts and Design made an exceptional impact at the 2025 Bernina Dress Your Style Competition, claiming three of the top five finalist positions and securing first place in the national contest.
Hosted annually by Bernina South Africa, the competition challenges students from tertiary fashion institutions to reimagine classic denim through creativity, sustainability, and superior craftsmanship. Judged by renowned designer Gert-Johan Coetzee, the event celebrated technical precision and artistic originality among South Africa’s next generation of fashion visionaries.
VUT lecturer Ms Ilani Wilken expressed immense pride in her students’ success, describing it as a testament to dedication and growth within the programme.
“We have participated in this competition since the days of the former Technikon,” said Wilken. “I am so proud that we, as VUT, stood out from the rest. The hard work and long hours paid off, proving that our students can compete at national level.”
The 2025 theme, “Denim Innovations: The New Classics,” required contestants to design and construct an innovative denim garment that fuses modern aesthetics with timeless appeal. According to Ms Wilken, the triumph resulted from “a strong group of students who embraced the challenge with creativity, discipline, and technical excellence.”
Among the standout finalists was Mr Khulekani Eleganto, whose winning design offered a bold reinterpretation of the traditional corset, merging masculine tailoring with contemporary elegance.
“My design was inspired by confidence and modern sophistication,” said Mr Eleganto. “I wanted to redefine masculinity through fashion, showing that structured garments like corsets can also symbolise strength and style for men.”
His four-piece ensemble, comprising a blazer, trousers, corset, and side tail wrap, impressed judges with its refined craftsmanship and conceptual depth. Despite the intense 24-hour creation process,Mr Eleganto credited teamwork, resilience, and self-belief as pivotal to his success.
“The experience taught me patience, adaptability, and the importance of trusting my instincts,” he reflected. “Winning boosted my confidence and inspired me to keep pushing creative boundaries under my brand, Khulekani Eleganto.”
For Wilken, the competition embodies the essence of fashion education: balancing creativity with discipline and professional readiness.
“Competitions like Bernina prepare students for the realities of the fashion industry,” she explained. “They learn to work under pressure, meet deadlines, and communicate effectively within a team.”
She emphasised that precision and professionalism form the backbone of VUT’s training philosophy.
“Class starts at 08h00 sharp, no late coming, no absences, and every garment must reflect neatness and perfect fit,” she added. “These values ensure our students are industry ready.”
VUT’s success at Bernina 2025 not only underscores the university’s growing stature in South Africa’s creative arts sector but also reaffirms its commitment to cultivating young talent through excellence in design education.
“This achievement brings immense pride to our department and the university as a whole,” Wilken concluded. “It shows that our students are capable of competing at the highest level and that VUT remains a place where creativity meets excellence.”
The Bernina Dress Your Style competition remains one of the nation’s most prestigious platforms for emerging designers, offering winners state-of-the-art sewing machines, national exposure, and entry into the Bernina National Champion Sew-Off in Johannesburg.
As Mr Eleganto and his peers prepare for upcoming opportunities, including the VUT Fashion Show on 24 October 2025, their triumph stands as a testament to the innovation, perseverance, and creative spirit nurtured within VUT.