The Nominees For African Fashion Awards

The nominees for the prestigious, annual African Fashion Awards (AFAs) have been announced, with contenders coming from as far afield as South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and Italy for the glittering event, which will take place at Melrose Arch, Johannesburg on 2 November.

The AFAs will be held after the last day of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Africa 2014, which will run from 29 October to 1 November, also at Melrose Arch.

The winners will be selected by an esteemed panel of judges including former ELLE South Africa editor & iconic fashion influencer, Jackie Burger, UNISA Director of VC Projects and Advisor to the Principal, Professor Puleng LenkaBula, Zambian-born, London-based journalist and Editor of New African Woman magazine, ReGina Jane Jere, Marie Claire South Africa editor, Aspasia Karras and top stylist and fashionista, Arieta Mujay

 
And the nominees for the 2014 Africa Fashion Awards are:

Designer of the Year:

Lisa Folawiyo (Nigeria), for her multifaceted, global womenswear and accessories brand, Jewel by Lisa.

Amaka Osakwe (Nigeria), for Maki Oh, a globally recognised womenswear label known for its deeply rooted African identity.

Marianne Fassler (South Africa), critically acclaimed and multi-award-winning fashion stalwart who continues to surprise and delight after 20 years in the industry.

Emerging Designer of the Year:

Laduma Ngxokolo (South Africa), for his Xhosa-heritage-inspired knitwear brand, currently taking international fashion by storm, MaXhosa by Laduma.

Nana Brenu (Ghana), for 1981 by Nana Brenu, conceived to bridge the gap between minimalist design sensibilities and vibrant, bold Ghanaian tradition.

Nick Coutts (South Africa), winner of ELLE Rising Star 2013, whose capsule collection is currently stocked by Mr Price.

Eleni Labrou (South Africa), AFI Young Designer of the Year 2013, for AKEDO, which has made significant inroads on the fashion map since its launch last year.

Accessory Designer of the Year:

Chloe Townsend & Lizel Strydom (South Africa), for Missibaba, a luxury leather accessories label.
Katherine-Mary Pichulik (South Africa), for Pichulik, a bespoke label of hand-crafted neckpieces accessories.

Adèle Dejak (Kenya), for Adèle Dejak, a brand offering accessories inspired by African shapes, textures and traditional techniques, owing to the designer’s background in typography design.

Outstanding Trend Communicator:

Diana Opoti (Kenya), Executive Producer of the TV show, Designing Africa (which reaches 42 countries) and champion of the #100DaysofAfricanFashion campaign.

Gaschette Magazine (South Africa), a digital fashion publication launched by creative trio, Colin O’Mara Davis, Steve Marais and Jessica Lupton.

A Fashion Friend (South Africa), an online fashion news portal, founded by fashion director, Robynne Kahn as a platform for young creatives.

Model of the Year:

Dave Kabamba (DRC), who has appeared in editorials for GQ Style, Under the Influence magazine, Sunday Times Fashion Weekly, Destiny Man, Business Class and Cosmopolitan, to name just a few. (Vision Models)

Bianca Brombin (SA), who has appeared in numerous magazines and modelling campaigns and recently appeared the music video for the song “Pit-bull Terrier” by Die Antwoord. (Ice Models)

Favour Lucky (Nigeria), MBFWAfrica 2014 model and Nigeria’s Next Supermodel 2011. (Isis Models)

Imade Ogbewi (Nigeria), MBFWAfrica 2014 model and Nigeria’s Next Supermodel 2013. (Isis Models)

Outstanding Contribution to African Fashion:

France Sozzani (Italy), Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Italia, respected for shining a spotlight on the African fashion industry’s growing role in the global fashion industry.

Kofi Ansah (Ghana), recently departed fashion designer and pioneer in the promotion of African fashion on the world stage.

Omoyemi Akerele (Nigeria), founder of Lagos Fashion & Design Week and the founding artistic director of Style House Files, a creative development agency for African designers.

Young Designer of the Year: (AFI Fastrack 2014 Winners)

Rich Mnisi
Nazneen Kagee
Jessica Ross
Tuelo Nguyuza

Source: lifestyle.iafrica.com