Logo
Win billboard

Project Runway SA judges confirmed!

News
05 May 2018
Mzansi, say hello to your seasoned fashion power houses, Nonhlanhla ‘Noni’ Gasa and Rahim Rawjee.
project runway sa judges

In the midst of the heady preparations for South Africa’s very first version of Project Runway, Mzansi Magic, Ndalo Pictures in association with 4th STREET Wines and their production partners Rapid Blue are proud to announce the show’s resident judges.

Mzansi, say hello to your seasoned fashion power houses, Nonhlanhla ‘Noni’ Gasa and Rahim Rawjee.

Noni Gasa comes with a wealth of TV experience from co-hosting a string of television productions like, Big Brother Africa, Media Matters, The M-Net Movies Show, and starring as a judge on Mzansi Magic’s reality model search, Diamond In The Ruff.

Gasa is an irreplaceable style icon both elegant and charmingly effervescent. She Holds a BA Journalism degree, a Masters in Luxury Business, and an MBA in Luxury Brand Management. She is an accomplished woman who’s not afraid to run in her own lane.

Standing tall at Gasa’s side on the judging panel is Rawjee – a man who cuts a very dashing and powerful figure, both onscreen and off. Rawjee is the creative mastermind who launched Row-G, Africa’s world-renowned, made-to-measure luxury menswear brand.

A man of many talents, Rawjee also runs highly sought after master classes, where he shares his secrets and teaches about the finer aspects of creating impeccably crafted garments.

While Project Runway SA contestants might be lulled by his soft Canadian accent (he attended the International Academy of Merchandising and Design) and his warm persona, they’ll quickly realise that there’s a reason why Obama chooses to wear his designer’s suits.

Ndalo Pictures Founder and CEO Khanyi Dhlomo says, “Noni and Rahim are the ultimate dream team for Project Runway SA. They are both highly accomplished, incredibly engaging, and their chemistry absolutely sizzles.”

The judges will be casting their sharp eyes over every aspect of every design leading up to their ultimate decision of who will make the cut.

“It is a fantastic opportunity to be part of South Africa’s first Project Runway. It’s an honour to be able to lend my voice to an exciting new wave of talent in this country and to be able to show young minds what’s truly possible – beyond the scope and scale of anything that’s ever been done before. It makes me excited to get up in the morning.” says Gasa.

As for Rawjee, he says he won’t just be looking at the contestant’s choice of fabric per se. “In Project Runway, it’s more about the interpretation, or the use of fabrics in a specific design. I’m more interested in what you choose to do with the cloth rather than the cloth itself. A designer has such an important role - you have the potential to communicate to large masses of people through your clothes. Your messaging can influence the way people look at things, the way people feel, the way they react – it’s much deeper than just a dress or a shirt and what the next colour for the season is. You almost have to have a knowledge far deeper than your conventional five senses can reveal to you. And you really have to have your finger on the pulse about everything – music, art, film, architecture, and pop-culture – absolutely everything.” said Rawjee.

Not a single stitch has been sewn on Project Runway SA yet, and already we’re intrigued.

Look out for Project Runway SA, Season 1, coming to Mzansi Magic, DStv channel 161 on DStv in July.