A rigorous selection for the Africa Fashion Awards were made by a judging panel of local and international leaders – including the likes of Editor at Large, Michael Roberts, WGNS’s Sarah Owen, Vogue.uk contributor editor Elisa Tudor, Shaun Borstock from In Pursuit of Luxury and author of New African Fashion, Helen Jennings – in various award categories with final judging having taken place during Africa Fashion Week.

· Model of the Year: Ajuma Nasanyana

· Designer of the Year (Africa) : Jewel By Lisa

· Designer of the Year (International) International: Ozwald Boateng

· Emerging Designer of the Year (Africa): Maki Oh

· Emerging Designer of the Year (International): Mimi Plange

· Accessories Designer of the Year: Maya Antoun

· Fashion Communicator of the Year: ifashion

· Outstanding Contribution to African Fashion: Bethann Hardison

· Outstanding Contribution to Make-Up Direction: Liz Van Der Merwe

· Outstanding Contribution to Hair Direction: Johnnie Sapong

· Outstanding Contribution to Fashion Styling: Jenny Andrew

· Outsanding Contibution to Fashion Photography: Andrew Dosunmu

Photo Credit: Simon Deiner / SDR Photo

DESIGNER OF THE YEAR – AFRICA
1. Deola Sagoe
2. David Tlale
3. Kluk CGDT
4. Soucha
5. Jewel By Lisa

DESIGNER OF THE YEAR – INTERNATIONAL
1. Alexander Koutny
2. Bunmi Koko
3. Casely Hayford
4. Suno
5. Ozwald Boateng

EMERGING DESIGNER OF THE YEAR – AFRICA
1. Thula Sindi
2. Avant
3. Kiki Clothing
4. Maki Oh
5. Christie Brown

EMERGING DESIGNER OF THE YEAR – INTERNATIONAL
1. Gozi
2. Mataano
3. Korto Momolu
4. Mimi Plange
5. Angelo Van Mol

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY
1. Simon Deiner
2. Steve Tanchel
3. Andrew Dosunmu
4. Viviane Sassen
5. Warwick Saint

FASHION COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR
1. www.iFashion.co.za
2. Elle Magazine South Africa
3. Haute Africa Fashion
4. Chioma Nnadi
5. Milisuthando Bongela

MODEL OF THE YEAR
1. Atuai Deng
2. Candice Swanepoel
3. Grace Bol
4. Nyasha Matonhodze
5. Ajuma Nasanyana

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO HAIR DIRECTION
1. Becks Buki
2. Kevin Epstein
3. Johnnie Sapong
4. Randolph Gray
5. Errol Douglas

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO MAKE-UP DIRECTION
1. Faith Seoue
2. Lesley Whitby
3. Liz van der Merwe
4. Nthato Mashishi
5. Eryca Freemantle

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO FASHION STYLING
1. Felipe Mazibuko
2. Jenny Andrew
3. Louw Kotze
4. Sabrina Henry
5. Cynthia Lawrence-John

ACCESSORIES DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
1. Anita Quansah
2. Maya Antoun
3. Mickael Kra
4. Missibaba
5. Piece

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO AFRICAN FASHION
1. Iman
2. Alphadi
3. Bethann Hardison
4. Jackie Burger

These clothes, originally based on traditional Indonesian batik and formerly known as Dutch wax, have been popular in Nigeria for generations.

“Our mothers, grandmothers and probably great-grandmothers have worn this fabric,” Ms Folawiyo told the BBC series African Dream.

But, as though they were not already bright enough, she decided to embellish them with beads, sequins and crystals, all sewn by hand, and the chic combination became an instant success.

“I can confidently say that Jewel by Lisa was the originator of the embellished Ankara which we see today everywhere,” the designer said.

“I have a huge clientele and I have been able to hire a showroom in New York, for instance, and from that showroom we have been able to be stocked in about two stores in New York. Also, I am stocked in a store in South Africa,” she added. . .”

Read and Listen to her on BBC.

“Designer Lanre Da Silva-Ajayi attends the Made In Africa: By Arise Magazine Spring 2012 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on September 15, 2011 in New York City.
(September 14, 2011 – Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images North America)”

The audience, however, seem to be eagerly awaiting the awards show, as it appeared that was all that was being talked and whispered about, during the shows. The shows were finally over and guests were ushered to a buffet courtesy of Arise. After the buffet came the AWARD show hosted by R &B singer Darey Art Alade and former CNN media personality Lola Ogunnaike. For the first time since the beginning of the show, the tent where the shows had been held, was packed full. Among the audience were many designers who were mostly seated on the front row. Fashion models were scattered among the audience. The models, it appeared, seemed happy to be free from all the hassles of backstage and changing clothes.

Finally came the moment everyone had been waiting for! The designers who made the cut to show at Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week this September 2011 are: Pierre-Antoine Vertorello (Belgium/Ghana), Kluk CGTD (South Africa), Bunmi Koko (UK/Nigeria), Jewel by Lisa (Nigeria—this will be her second time showing in NY) and Tsemaye Binitie (UK).

The complete list of winners are:

Best in Creative Design – Ituen Basi
Best in Innovation Design – Pierre-Antonine Vettorello
Men’s Designer of the Year – Angelo Van Mol
Lifetime Achievement Awards: Deola Sagoe, Xuly Bet, Ere Dappa, Kluk CGDT and Shade Thomas
New Face of the Year – Chika
Fashion Brand of the Year – Tiffany Amber
Emerging designer of the year – Maki Oh (Maki was so teary eyed and could barely say much)
Young designer of the year – Buki Akib
Style icon of the year – Nike Oshinowo
Model of the year – Flaviana Matata
Designer of the year – Kluk CGDT

Congratulations to all!

~Bola Oyedele
~Photodescription: Mataano designer and Studio 53 Extra’s Eku Edewor at the Arise Shows
~Courtesy photo

LOCATION: The ARISE MAGAZINE FASHION WEEK ­LAGOS 2011 will take place at the luxury Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, from Thursday 10th March to Sunday 13th March 2011.

THE DESIGNERS: The event has up to 50 African fashion designers participating. The fashion shows will be in three categories: Group, Double and Collective showcases over four days.

The designers that will participate are: Alexander Amosu, Amine Bendriouich Couture and BS, Autumn Adeigbo, Angelo Van Mol, B-Side by Wale Adeyemi, Bestow Elan, Black Coffee, Bridget Awosika, Buki Akib, Bunmi Koko, Chichia, Christie Brown, Deola Sagoe, Ejiro Amos Tafiri, Eki Orleans, Eredappa, Gavin Rajah (SA), Gert-Johan Coetzee, Grey, House of Farrah, House of Nwocha, Ituen Basi, Jewel by Lisa, JIL, Jo Black Craze, Kastle Designs & Treasure Chest, KemKemStudio, Kiki Kamanu, Klûk CGDT, Korto Momolu, Lanre Da Silva Ajayi , LaQuan Smith, Lola Faturoti, Madam Wokie’s Couture, Maki Oh, Mataano, Mustafa Hassanali, Nikki Khiran Couture, NKWO, Odio Mimonet, Okunoren Twins, Pierre-Antoine Vettorello, Re Bahia, Samantha Cole, Tiffany Amber, Toju Foyeh, Tsemaye Binitie, Viv La Resistance, Vonne, Xuly.Bët, Zedeye.

THE MEDIA: The Media present will include Ladybrille  as well as national and international print, online and television media.

THE MUSIC PERFORMANCES: Arise Magazine Fashion Week 2011 will each day of the event close with a star-studded closing musical act. Confirmed artists include Naeto C, Darey Art-Alade, Grammy Award-winning singer Estelle and to close the ARISE Magazine Fashion Week Awards on Sunday 13 March, will be Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu – better known as the two-time BRIT Award-winning artist: Tinie Tempah.

What ARISE Magazine founder Nduka Obaigbena has to say: “We feel the time is right for us to create our very own series of major events and show the world that Africa is here to stay at the cutting edge of international fashion. Part of
ARISE Magazine’s mission continues to be the promotion of new and established African and African diaspora designers. ARISE Magazine Fashion Week is only the start of our worldwide ambitions.”

Stay tuned for more details.

Nigeria’s fashion industry gets a major facelift with Arise Magazine Fashion Week Lagos. The event takes place in Lagos

THURSDAY MARCH 10

09:00 PRESS ACCREDITATION

10:00 THE BUSINESS OF FASHION CONFERENCE (ARISE MAGAZINE TENT)

15:00 OPENER

16:00 NKWO (UK) (THISDAY STYLE TENT)

HOUSE OF NWOCHA (NG)

KIKI KAMANU (US)

GREY (NG)

Collective Show

18:00 JEWEL BY LISA (NG) (THISDAY STYLE TENT)

20:00 KLUK CGTD (SA) (THISDAY STYLE TENT)

21:00 Closing Music Acts

NAETO C AND DAREY ART-ALADE

FRIDAY MARCH 11

11:00 PRESS LAUNCH

12:00 KEMKEM STUDIO (NG) (THISDAY STYLE TENT)

AUTUMN ADEIGBO (US)

MADAM WOKIES COUTURE (SIERRA LEONE)

VIVA LA RESISTANCE (NG)

Group Show

13:00 CHRISTIE BROWN (GHANA) (ARISE MAGAZINE TENT)

BUKI AKIB (UK)

Double Show

14:00 SAMANTHA COLE (UK) (THISDAY STYLE TENT)

15:00 MUSTAFA HASSANALI (TANZANIA) (ARISE MAGAZINE TENT)

16:00 KORTO MOMOLU (LIBERIA/US) (THISDAY STYLE TENT)

BRIDGET AWOSIKA (NG)

Group Show

17:00 AMINE BENDRIOUICH (MOROCCO) (ARISE MAGAZINE TENT)

OKUNOREN TWINS (NG)

Double Show

18:00 GAVIN RAJAH (SA) (THISDAY STYLE TENT)

19:00 ITUEN BASI (NG) (ARISE MAGAZINE TENT)

20:00 TIFFANY AMBER (NG) (THISDAY STYLE TENT)

21:00 Closing Music Acts

KERI HILSON AND FRIENDS (TBC)

SATURDAY MARCH 12

11:00 NIKKI KHIRAN (NG) (ARISE MAGAZINE TENT)

ANNE MARIE ADDO (GHANA)

VONNE (NG)

EKI ORLEANS (UK)

Group Show

12:00 MIMI PLANGE (SENEGAL) (THISDAY STYLE TENT)

BESTOW ELAN (ETHIOPIA)

EJIRO AMOS TAFIRI (NG)

JO BLACK CRAZE (NG)

Group Show

13:00 CHICHIA (TANZANIA) (ARISE MAGAZINE TENT)

GERT-JOHAN COETZEE (SA)

Double Show

14:00 MAKI OH (UK/NG) (THISDAY STYLE TENT)

TSEMAYE BINITIE (UK)

Group Show

15:00 ALEXANDER AMOSU (UK) (ARISE MAGAZINE TENT)

16:00 BUNMI KOKO (UK) (THISDAY STYLE TENT)

17:00 EREDAPPA (NG) (ARISE MAGAZINE TENT)

ODIO MIMONET (NG)

Double Show

18:00 LANRE DA SILVA AJAYI (NG) (THISDAY STYLE TENT)

LAQUAN SMITH (US)

Group Show

19:00 SAHEED SULAIMAN (NG) (ARISE MAGAZINE TENT)

20:00 DEOLA SAGOE (NG) (THISDAY STYLE TENT)

21:00 Closing Music Act

ESTELLE AND D’BANJ

SUNDAY MARCH 13

12:00 KASTLE DESIGN AND TREASURE CHEST (GHANA/US) (ARISE MAGAZINE TENT)

ZEDEYE (UK)

RE BAHIA (UK)

TOJU FOYEH (NG)

Group Show

13:00 PIERRE ANTONI VETTORELLO (BELGIUM/GHANA) (THISDAY STYLE TENT)

ANGELO VON MOL (BELGIUM/IVORY COAST)

Double Show

14:00 MATAANO (SOMALIA/US) (ARISE MAGAZINE TENT)

RON N RON (US)

Double Show

15:00 LOLA FATOUROTI (US) (THISDAY STYLE TENT)

16:00 B-SIDE BY WALE ADEYEMI (UK) (ARISE MAGAZINE TENT)

17:00 XULY BET (MALI/FRANCE) (THISDAY STYLE TENT)

20:00-12:00 AMFW AWARDS/BLACK COFFEE (SA)

Closing Music Act

TINIE TEMPAH

Kelis in JBL at the Chanel 4 T4 on the Beach Concert, July 2010

Kelis in JBL on 106 & Park, July 2010

Kelis in JBL at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in New York City