IT'S all systems go for this year's prestigious horse racing event, the Vodacom Durban July.

Designers are putting finishing touches to outfits while models are doing the last fittings of the garments they will be showing off.

Durban fashion designer Lindiwe Khuzwayo's collection includes some of the best garments for this year's premier horse racing event. Khuzwayo and 10 other designers have been invited to produce an exclusive three-piece Vodacom Durban July collection.

This includes a showstopper, a race day ensemble and an extravagant hat based on the theme "It's a Blooming Great Day!"

This year's event was moved to the last Saturday of this month to make way for the just-ended World Cup.

Khuzwayo said: "I have been showcasing my designs at the Vodacom July for a number of years, and to be selected to create a showstopper collection this year is an honour.

"It is not just any designer that gets given such a task in an event of this magnitude, this is really a privilege."

She has been hard at work for months now and is putting the final touches to her collection. "I started shopping for fabrics months ago.

"I found the perfect floral and colourful materials, putting this and that together to come up with what I have in mind. I have enjoyed working on this year's theme, it's colourful and romantic."

Fashion programme director Tiffany Prior said: "This year's theme is my favourite to date as it offers designers so many opportunities for clever and varied interpretation. Aspects of the theme are spot-on and trend wise for spring 2010."

For the past few months, designers have had the challenging task of designing garments for one of four pre-race day fashion competitions.

Event marketing manager Ken Tweddell said: "These shows are a sneak preview for socialites eager to find out what to expect on the fashion front on race day."