The nominations list for the Africa Fashion Awards has been announced . The event which will have Africa’s fashion industry holding their collective breath at the highly anticipated event which concludes the runway show at Africa Fashion Week on October 22. Africa Fashion Week runs from October 20-23 with 18 shows at the Sandton Convention Centre, presenting designers from South Africa, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, London, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, the United States and Zimbabwe.
In the Africa Fashion Awards – which include the coveted Designer of the Year (Africa) – nomination criteria are for designers whose work represents the strong emergence of a global African aesthetic along with relevant international reach.
“By creating a platform that is relevant and credible both in Africa and internationally, the Africa Fashion Awards are positioned to be the authority on African fashion excellence to a global industry. As such, the awards focus not only on designers showing at AFW, but reach beyond that to recognize industry excellence and outstanding contributions by industry members of African descent world-wide,” says African Fashion International Executive Chairperson Dr Precious Moloi – Motsepe.
A rigorous selection for the Africa Fashion Awards has been made by a panel of local and international leaders in the fashion and media industry; with final judging set to take place during Africa Fashion Week for the various award categories.
Nominees in the various categories include (last year’s winners in brackets):
DESIGNER OF THE YEAR – AFRICA
(BLACK COFFEE)
1. Deola Sagoe
2. David Tlale
3. Kluk CGDT
4. Soucha
5. Jewel By Lisa
DESIGNER OF THE YEAR – INTERNATIONAL
(DURO OLOWU)
1. Alexander Koutny
2. Bunmi Koko
3. Casely Hayford
4. Suno
5. Ozwald Boateng
EMERGING DESIGNER OF THE YEAR – AFRICA
(ITUEN BASI)
1. Thula Sindi
2. Avant
3. Kiki Clothing
4. Maki Oh
5. Christie Brown
EMERGING DESIGNER OF THE YEAR – INTERNATIONAL
(BUNMI KOKO)
1. Gozi
2. Mataano
3. Korto Momolu
4. Mimi Plange
5. Angelo Van Mol
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY
(KOTO BOLOFO)
1. Simon Deiner
2. Steve Tanchel
3. Andrew Dosunmu
4. Viviane Sassen
5. Warwick Saint
FASHION COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR
(BELLANAIJA.COM)
1. Chioma Nnadi
2. Elle Magazine South Africa
3. Haute Africa Fashion
4. iFashion
5. Milisuthando Bongela
MODEL OF THE YEAR
(SESSILEE LOPEZ)
1. Atuai Deng
2. Candice Swanepoel
3. Grace Bol
4. Nyasha Matonhodze
5. Ajuma Nasanyana
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO HAIR DIRECTION
(SAADIQUE)
1. Becks Buki
2. Kevin Epstein
3. Johnnie Sapong
4. Randolph Gray
5. Errol Douglas
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO MAKE-UP DIRECTION
(PAT MCGRATH)
1. Faith Seoue
2. Lesley Whitby
3. Liz van der Merwe
4. Nthato Mashishi
5. Eryca Freemantle
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO FASHION STYLING
(EDWARD ENNINFUL)
1. Felipe Mazibuko
2. Jenny Andrew
3. Louw Kotze
4. Sabrina Henry
5. Cynthia Lawrence-John
ACCESSORIES DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
(ALBERTUS SWANEPOEL)
1. Anita Quansah
2. Maya Antoun
3. Mickael Kra
4. Missibaba
5. Piece
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO AFRICAN FASHION
(MARIANNE FASSLER)
1. Iman
2. Alphadi
3. Bethann Hardison
4. Jackie Burger
Apart from the top end ramp shows, with many designers on the continent gearing their collection for potential business with the rest of the world, local & international media, trend influencers, retail-industry specialists and fashion industry insiders will descend on Africa Fashion Week for seminars on fashion development as well as the concurrent Africa Fashion Trade Expo.
Over 12 000 people are expected to attend fashion week and an additional 2000 predicted for the Expo.
Congratulations to all the nominees!
