Travelling from Kimberley to Cape Town, fashion designer Denzil Pillay delivered a runway showcase that turned heads and stole the spotlight at the 2026 Look In Lens competition held at Rooftop on Bree on 16 May. With the event themed around a Masquerade Ball, Pillay embraced boldness and drama through a striking collection centred around the colour red. The garments, filled with elegance, power, and royalty inspired glamour, transformed the runway into a theatrical fashion spectacle. “I chose the colour red because it’s powerful, bold, sexy and fierce,” Pillay explained. “When you walk into a room with a colour red you cannot go unnoticed.” The collection immediately captivated the audience, creating a magical atmosphere of luxury and sophistication. Flowing ballgowns, dramatic silhouettes, and fierce styling combined to create one of the standout moments of the evening. For Pillay, the journey to Cape Town was not without its challenges. “Travelling from Kimberley to Cape Town comes with a lot of challenges financially because the production is cost effective,” he said. “I was stunned and caught off guard because the audience welcomed me with an open heart and among Capetonians were people from the Northern Cape as well that came to support me.” Pillay, who specialises in matric ball gowns and pageantry wear, selected one of his existing designs for rising model Jade van Heerden to wear during the competition. “It was a dress I had in my collection and choosing the dress for Jade to wear, I knew it would suit her personality, her unique style and elegance,” he said. That decision proved to be the perfect match as 24 year old Jade van Heerden walked away with the 2026 Look In Lens Female Feature Model title. Originally from Okiep in Springbok in the Northern Cape, Jade’s rise to runway success has been remarkable. By day she works in Cape Town as a call centre agent, but on the runway she has emerged as a fierce and commanding presence. Winning the competition was particularly meaningful as it marked her first modelling competition and first ever runway appearance. “Honestly, finding myself in this position, let alone winning the entire competition, is something I never could have imagined,” Jade said. “Personally, this big win has been completely transformative for my self confidence. It has taught me to truly believe in myself and given me the courage to step out of my comfort zone.” Preparing for the competition required determination and discipline, especially since Jade had no previous runway experience. “I had to learn everything from scratch to keep up with the field,” she explained. “My preparation was entirely focused on mastering the basics, most importantly learning how to walk and feel balanced in high heels.” For Jade, who admitted she never wore heels or dresses growing up, adapting to the fashion world was a major challenge. “I spent countless hours practicing, rehearsing, and building up my coordination,” she said. “The Look In Lens team’s guidance, support, and mentorship were absolutely vital.” The transition from working in a corporate call centre environment to walking high fashion runways also demanded a complete mindset shift. “It’s a journey defined by reinvention, showing that you are never confined to just one path if you’re willing to put in the work and embrace the discomfort of growth,” she said. Jade credited Pillay’s designs with helping her discover confidence she never knew she had. “Wearing Denzil’s beautiful designs completely transformed my perspective,” she explained. “His garments made me feel so incredibly beautiful and confident that it pushed me past my insecurities.” Pillay, who began his fashion career in Cape Town a decade ago, believes the fashion landscape in the Northern Cape still faces challenges compared to larger cities. “Cape Town is more open minded on fashion than the Northern Cape, so it’s always difficult to persuade people to think outside the box,” he said. Despite those challenges, both Pillay and Jade hope their success sends a message to aspiring creatives from small towns across the province. “The goal is to show people that both myself and Jade coming from small towns such as Kimberley and Calvinia should not limit your ability and to dream big because the sky is not the limit,” Pillay said. Following their success at Look In Lens, both are determined to build on the momentum. Jade plans to expand her modelling portfolio and take on larger runway opportunities, while the partnership between model and designer aims to continue showcasing Northern Cape talent on bigger stages. “Coming from a small town doesn’t limit the scale of your impact on the fashion industry,” Jade said. Their success at Look In Lens highlighted not only Jade’s breakthrough moment on the runway, but also cemented Denzil Pillay’s growing reputation as one of the Northern Cape’s standout fashion creatives. Through his bold designs, theatrical vision, and ability to merge elegance with fierce individuality, Pillay delivered a collection that became one of the defining highlights of the evening. His achievement at a major Cape Town fashion event served as proof that talent from Kimberley can compete on the highest level, inspiring a new generation of designers and models from the Northern Cape to dream beyond the boundaries of small town life.
Tags: DFA