NELSON Mandela Metropolitan University “scored” a hat-trick at the Bradford-based Society of Dyers and Colourists’ (SDC) Annual International Design Competition in Hong Kong when 21-year old Shannon Daniell became the third consecutive NMMU student to scoop the top prize.
This follows the successes of Moipone Qekisi in 2009 and Laduma Ngxokolo last year: making it three NMMU winners since the competition started in 2009. For her project titled “Beautifully bleeding”, the BTech textile design student chose to create a blanket that can simply convert into a poncho. (See: So, Shannon Daniell, is it a Blancho or a Ponket?)
“I also looked at worldwide problems that need to be addressed. Aids orphans are a major issue in most places and an increasing problem in Africa. I have taken great interest in an organisation called Ithemba Eliphilisayo, which means ‘The Hope that Heals’,” she said after winning the South African leg of the competition.
Her proud lecturer Gina Esterhuizen said Shannon had a very strong narrative behind her design according the theme “reduce, recycle, reuse”. “It touched on environmental concerns and social problems in South Africa. Her end product was made for Aids orphans.
“She considered all the practical aspects of making a poncho from recycled hotel room linens. In the end she remade the entire product so that it was practical and beautiful and could easily be converted from a poncho into a blanket using an extra clip on newspaper stuffed ‘blanket’.”
She added that colour played an important role in her work, meeting the decorative and emotional qualities of her theme.
The Society of Dyers and Colourists hosted nine finalists for three days in Hong Kong where they also participated in a series of workshops on textile techniques and technologies.
Each of the global finalists’ work was exhibited at the event and judged by a panel from industry.
Shannon is due back in Port Elizabeth today.
21-year old NMMU BTech textile design student Shannon Daniell won the South African leg of the 2011 Society for Dyers and Colourists (SDC) competition.
