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IOL News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Siphosihle Masango to dress Mzansi's celebs in show-stopping couture at the Hollywoodbets Durban July
From Shauwn Mkhize, Lamiez Holworthy, Mihlali Ndamase to Nomalanga Shozi, fashion design label Masango by Siphosihle Masango has become South African celebrities go-to for couture looks. Image: Supplied/Vine Imagery Events and Lifestyle Photography Fashion label Masango by Siphosihle is gearing up for the Hollywoodbets Durban July where he will be dressing a few of Mzansi's famous faces. Designer Siphosihle Masango has built a strong reputation for executing couture wear and making A-listers stand out on red carpet or major events. The Hollywoodbets Durban July is one of the country's premium lifestyle events and a platform for designers to showcase their work. Masango by Siphosihle will be dressing award-winning digital creator Mihlali Ndamase, reality TV star and DJ Gogo Skhotheni, celebrity stylist Phupho Gumede, DJ and YouTuber Cyan Boujee and Digital content creator Doro Mongy. Masango by Siphosihle will be dressing award-winning digital creator Mihlali Ndamase, reality TV star and DJ Gogo Skhotheni, celebrity stylist Phupho Gumede, DJ and YouTuber Cyan Boujee and Digital content creator Doro Mongy for the Hollywoodbets Durban July. Image: Supplied/Vine Imagery Events and Lifestyle Photography Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Speaking to IOL Lifestyle, Masango gave a glimpse of working with the celebrities, to execute their visions for the Marvels of Mzansi theme. He candidly expressed how working with each celebrity has been an absolute joy, from the very first brief. 'There's been a real sense of trust of them handing me a blank canvas, and of us building a look together.' When it comes to building a look, Masango takes a dive deep into their individual tastes and asks: What makes them feel invincible and then pairs that with his design signature. 'The energy in our fittings, when something clicks and they see themselves transformed, is what I live for.' When it comes to creating a look for a celebrity several factors matter from impact to comfort and for Masango it's always about balancing everything. 'Impact comes from a signature silhouette or a moment of unexpected detail, a sculptural sleeve, an under-lit hem. But I'll never sacrifice the wearer's ease: if they can't move, mingle or enjoy the day, the look fails its purpose. 'I marry structure with stretch panels, breathable liners and carefully placed vents. The final goal is confidence: when they feel effortless, that confidence radiates and makes the look sing.' This year's theme, 'Marvels of Mzansi,' sets the stage for a vibrant celebration of South Africa's cultural richness and breathtaking landscapes. Inviting attendees to dive deep into the soul of the country and express its marvels through bold, creative fashion. 'Mzansi is a treasure trove; its landscapes, textures, ancestral motifs,' says Masango. For one of his muses, he has channelled nomadic soil hues and abstract macrame embroidery; for another it was the vibrant Ndebele print reimagined into futuristic tailoring. 'My approach is always two-fold: anchor the design in an instantly recognisable South African marvel, then twist it to reflect that client's personal flair, be it avant-garde drama or quiet elegance.' Creating looks for his clients for HollywoodBets Durban July began three months ago, which he says in fashion time feels like just enough space to dream big without losing momentum. An in-depth one-on-one concept call over Zoom or in his Johannesburg studio, gets the ball rolling. During this session Masango tasks each client to bring everything from childhood mementos to travel photos, favourite art pieces or even a single line of poetry that speaks to them. 'From that conversation I curated bespoke mood boards in Miro, pulling together colour stories, tonal palettes and fabric swatches that nod both to the 'Marvels of Mzansi' theme and the client's personal DNA. 'Within two weeks we refine those concepts, pinning down the core visual idea for their look; say, an abstract take on Sepedi Culture or a play on vibrant Ndebele prints.' Once concepts are pinned down then it's sketching silhouettes and draping miniature muslin prototypes. His studio runs like a well oiled machine, with everyone understanding their role, with team huddles held Monday mornings to track progress, address bottlenecks and celebrate small wins. 'That means our pattern makers know exactly when to turn a sketch into a full-scale prototype, and our master tailors can schedule fittings without any last-minute rush. 'To keep everyone (clients and team) in sync, we host weekly check-ins where I share progress reports with our muses, solicit feedback and iterate immediately. If a client falls in love with a particular hand-embroidered accent or decides they want a hidden pocket for their phone, we can pivot in real time.' Smooth logistics not only mean no double bookings but also create a genuine creative synergy. 'Nobody feels sidelined, and every look emerges as a fully realised collaboration rather than a solo act.' If a client was to approach Masango just days away from the event they might not get a custom piece with all the tralalala's but that doesn't mean they will be turned away. 'Realistically, three weeks before the event is the unofficial cut-off for a full custom couture piece. Anything after that, I steer clients toward elevated off-the-rack solutions and rapid, hand-finished embellishments, so they still feel bespoke without compromising quality.' Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse is a large venue with a 2,800 metre pear-shaped turf track and 22 VIP marquees and hospitality venues and cameras are clicking everywhere. For the designer, he looks at the scale of the event in a positive light and uses the pressure to push himself creatively and he won't settle for 'good enough'. 'Scale means choreography: there's the catwalk of arrivals, the midday sun, the breeze off the track, all factors that influence fabric choice, silhouette strength and even dye stability. 'And yes, the cameras are unforgiving; I feel the responsibility to create something that not only looks flawless in person but also photographs beautifully from every angle.' The Hollywoodbets Durban July is internationally acknowledged as Africa's Greatest Horseracing Event, with thousands of people coming to Durban from across the country and Africa just to witness the event. The outfits worn cause as much of a stir as the horses and land Mzansi's favourites on the best and worst lists, creating buzz and engagement on social media and one wants to be memorable. 'At the Durban July you're not just wearing clothes you're embodying a narrative,' said Masango. A memorable Durban July outfit has several elements to it; storytelling, the craftsmanship and even drama. 'The craftsmanship gives that story credibility; the drama gives it gravity; and when every detail points back to a core idea, be it heritage, a personal milestone or a playful twist, you create a moment people will talk about long after the final race. 'When elegance, emotion and excellence converge, that's a Durban July look that lives on.' As the Hollywoodbets Durban July draws closer, all eyes will be on the stars Masango has dressed. Whether they land on the best- or worst-dressed lists will be up to Mzansi's fashion police, but one thing's certain: every look will have a story worth telling. IOL Lifestyle
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
SCO digital economy forum to be held in China, highlighting cooperation
TIANJIN, June 30 (Xinhua) -- The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Digital Economy Forum will be held in north China's Tianjin Municipality from July 10 to 11, its organizers announced on Monday. Themed "New Bonds in the Digital Economy, New Horizons for Cooperation," the forum aims to expand new development space for the SCO and ensure digital dividends benefit people across the region. Over 600 participants from China and abroad will discuss data circulation and trade, industrial digitalization, digital infrastructure, AI applications, smart cities, and digital talent development -- key areas of common interest to SCO members. The event is co-organized by the National Data Administration (NDA) and the Tianjin municipal government. Speaking at a press conference, Yu Ying, deputy director of the NDA, said that China places great importance on international cooperation on the digital economy. Since the establishment of the NDA in October 2023, China has signed memorandums of understanding on digital economy cooperation with 26 countries, including Russia, Brazil, Hungary, Nigeria and Malaysia. China has achieved positive progress in developing the digital economy in recent years, with the added value of its core digital economy industries accounting for about 10 percent of its GDP by the end of 2024, Yu said.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Chittoor district officials gear up for Naidu's Kuppam visit
The Chittoor district administration is gearing up for Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's visit to the Kuppam Assembly constituency. While an official schedule is yet to be released, District Collector Sumit Kumar held a meeting with the key officials on Sunday to coordinate arrangements. A press release said that the Chief Minister is likely to stay overnight at his Kuppam residence and take part in multiple public programmes the next day. The visit includes a visit to an anganwadi centre, addressing a public meeting, inspecting exhibition stalls, and distributing financial benefits and assets to the beneficiaries of various government welfare schemes. The District Collector directed municipal and panchayat officials in Kuppam to ensure cleanliness in the municipality of Kuppam and Santhipuram mandal headquarters. During the proposed visit, Mr. Naidu is expected to inaugurate the Digital Nerve Centre (DiNC) at Kuppam Government Hospital, designed and developed with the support of Tata Consultancy Services. Mr. Sumit Kumar instructed the department heads to submit a comprehensive DPR on ongoing development works in the constituency.
The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Hong Kong sharpens crypto hub focus amid rising global competition
Hong Kong is intensifying its bid to become a global digital asset (DA) hub with the release of an updated policy statement focused on accelerating stablecoin use and tokenisation efforts, amid renewed momentum in the US this year. 'The government's highly anticipated Policy Statement 2.0, aimed at establishing Hong Kong as a global digital assets hub, comes at a time when Trump 2.0 is trying to make America the 'crypto capital of the planet',' said Andrew Fei, a partner at King & Wood Mallesons in Hong Kong. The city on Thursday released its 'Policy Statement 2.0 on the Development of Digital Assets in Hong Kong', an update to the first blueprint issued in late 2022, which first clarified the government's intent to court cryptocurrency business. Hong Kong is committed to bringing itself 'to new heights of global digital asset leadership' in response to the 'evolving global DA landscape', the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) said in the policy statement. The document comes as the US has rapidly become a more favourable environment for crypto companies this year, under the friendlier policies of the second administration of President Donald Trump. Cryptocurrency values have surged since his election in November, which has also energised business activity in the sector. Last week, the US Senate passed a bill regulating the use of stablecoins, called the Genius Act, after Hong Kong passed its own law on the assets in May. The Hong Kong ordinance will take effect on August 1. It shows that the 'global race for digital assets innovation is well under way', Fei said. The policy statement introduced what the FSTB called the 'Leap' framework, aiming to streamline the city's legal and regulatory framework for digital assets, expand digital asset product offerings, advance use cases and foster industry talent. These measures signify that Hong Kong is now 'not merely a testing ground for digital assets', but is transitioning towards increasing institutionalisation, scaling and globalisation, according to Xiao Feng, chairman and CEO of HashKey Group, a licensed crypto exchange operator. The city's latest policy statement placed a heavy focus on the tokenisation of real-world assets (RWAs), the process of putting representations of traditional assets on a blockchain. The city 'strives to build a more flourishing DA ecosystem' that will 'bring benefits to both the economy and society', Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said in a statement on Tuesday. One of the biggest proposals in the new document is for legislators to make tax concessions on profits from digital assets, bringing them into parity with traditional assets such as stocks and bonds. 'RWA tokenisation takes centre stage in the second digital assets policy statement, which makes sense since many predict that tokenisation will grow into a multi-trillion dollar market before the decade's end,' Fei said. Meanwhile, the city is charging ahead with stablecoin development, which industry players are exploring as a cross-border payment tool. Hong Kong's new digital asset blueprint will 'strengthen market integrity, enable diverse activities and high-value transactions', said Tian Gan, CEO of China Asset Management Hong Kong. With the new regulation, which requires licences for issuers, stablecoins will help the city's Web3 ecosystem 'reach a critical breakthrough moment', Gan said. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
Mid East Info
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- Mid East Info
Etihad Rail Launches Second Edition of Global Rail Innovation Award, Offering AED 1 Million Grant to Advance Transport Infrastructure
Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE National Rail Network, has announced the launch of the second edition of its Global Rail Innovation Award. This prestigious initiative features an AED 1,000,000 grant designed to inspire and accelerate transformative solutions in transport, mobility, and logistics. The award is open for submissions from startups, research institutions, technology leaders, and innovators worldwide, with finalists and winners to be honored at the Global Rail Transport Infrastructure Exhibition & Conference 2025, taking place from September 30 to October 2 at ADNEC Centre, Abu Dhabi. Driving Innovation and Global Leadership: The Global Rail Innovation Award underscores Etihad Rail's commitment to fostering next-generation advancements in rail and mobility, reinforcing the UAE's role as a global leader in transport innovation. Award Categories and Eligibility: The competition welcomes solutions addressing key challenges and opportunities in the rail, transport, logistics, and mobility sectors. Entries will be judged on technical originality, commercial viability, scalability, and alignment with future global transport needs. The award is open to participants from around the world, emphasizing Etihad Rail's dedication to global collaboration and knowledge exchange. Key Dates and Event Details • Submission Deadline: July 31, 2025 • Finalist Showcase and Winner Announcement: Global Rail Transport Infrastructure Exhibition & Conference 2025, September 30 – October 2, ADNEC Centre, Abu Dhabi Celebrating Past Achievements: Building on the momentum of the 2024 edition, which attracted over 75 international entries, the award continues to set new benchmarks for innovation. Previous winners include: • CEMIT – 'Monitoring in Motion': Real-time ride comfort and infrastructure analysis • LTTS – 'Innovative Way to Detect Visible Rail Defects in Real-Time': AI-driven rail defect detection • SYSTRA – 'Digital Twin for Railway Infrastructure': Predictive digital twin modeling for rail systems Impact and Future Opportunities: Winners and finalists will gain international recognition and exclusive visibility at one of the transport sector's most significant gatherings, attended by government ministers, CEOs, investors, and industry leaders. Their innovations will be featured in the official conference program and highlighted in dedicated technical sessions, opening doors to global networking and collaboration with Etihad Rail and its partners. Next Steps for Participants: Submissions are open until July 31, 2025. Interested innovators can find more details and submit their applications via the official portal: This initiative forms part of Etihad Rail's broader mission to build a smarter, more sustainable transport future, positioning the UAE as a hub for innovation and multimodal connectivity.
