“VUT unveiled its new corporate blazer at the 2026 State of the University Address, signaling innovation, institutional pride, student talent and a confident evolution of brand identity.”
10 February 2026 | Story by: Nontobeko Moimane | Picture by: Peter Masela
3 minutes read time.
The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) did not merely address its community at the 2026 State of the University Address on 03 February. It made a statement. With the official unveiling of its new corporate blazer, the institution marked a defining moment in its evolving identity, where brand, confidence, and purpose converged on one stage.
The reveal emerged as one of the most striking moments of the occasion, presenting a design that transcends attire. It is a visual language of leadership, progression, and institutional self belief. Addressing stakeholders, staff, students and partners, Director of Stakeholder Engagement Ms Ndumi Lufele framed the blazer as far more than a uniform. “This blazer is a statement,” she said. “It represents a VUT that is confident, agile, innovative and unapologetically forward-looking.”
Crafted through a rigorous creative journey, from initial sketches to digital refinement, pattern construction and precision laser-cutting, the blazer reflects both discipline and artistry. Each piece is cut individually from the same fabric, ensuring a shared identity without uniformity, a deliberate reflection of a university that values individuality within collective purpose.
At the heart of the design is student ingenuity. The blazer was conceptualised by VUT student Ms Rirhandzu Nobunga, whose work captures the transition from academic life to professional confidence. Her design builds on VUT’s brand evolution following the introduction of institutional corporate wear in 2022, advancing it with clarity and intent. “Through rigorous research and design development, I sought to strike a balance between creativity and the practical demands of corporate wear,” she said. “It was a challenge that required discipline and precision.”
In a historic first, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Khehla Ndlovu, became the inaugural wearer of the blazer, embodying leadership by example and reinforcing institutional pride. The student designer was invited to share the stage, a powerful gesture affirming VUT’s commitment to nurturing talent and translating creativity into impact.
“Today marks the official unveiling of the VUT blazer, a distinctive symbol through which one can immediately recognise the Vice-Chancellor and a VUT student,” said Professor Ndlovu. “As part of our Jubilee Year celebrations, it was important to introduce a blazer that reflects our evolving institutional identity. That it was designed by one of our own students makes this moment one of immense pride.”
Reflecting on the moment, VUT Marketing and Brand Manager Ms Tisch Farrell described the unveiling as transformational. “Seeing the Vice-Chancellor put on the VUT blazer on stage was a defining moment,” she said. “From that point, we began walking boldly as brand ambassadors, carrying our legacy with pride. As another #ProudlyVUT milestone, the blazer, like our 60th Anniversary logo, reflects a brand built by its people and driven with purpose. It tells a story of creativity, confidence and excellence.”
Set to be available from mid-February, the corporate blazer is poised to become a distinctive marker of VUT’s presence, opening doors, signalling credibility, and carrying the University’s story into professional and global spaces.
As VUT advances along its Road to 60, the blazer stands as a quiet but powerful declaration: an institution rooted in excellence, shaped by its people, and ready for what lies ahead.