Sunday March 13th, 2011 marked the grand finale of the Arise Magazine Fashion Week shows and the highly anticipated Arise Fashion Awards. Five designers would be selected to show this September 2011 at Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week. You could feel all holding their breaths at the awards, waiting to see if they were one of the lucky ones. Before the awards, however, designers like New York based Lola Faturoti and UK based Nkwo proved that Nigerians in the diaspora were still connected to their Nigerian roots. Their designs really incorporated Nigerian fabrics and styles in their collections.
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
Founded in 2007, Ladybrille® Magazine is a California based pioneer digital publication demystifying the image of Africans in the west through contemporary African fashion and celebrating the brilliant woman in business and leadership, with an emphasis on the African woman in the diaspora. Our coverage includes stories on capital, access to markets, expertise, hiring and retention, sales, marketing, and promotions.
