Alfonso among top 10 African designers
Lilly Alfonso, Malawi’s celebrated fashion designer, has been named among the top 10 fashion designers in Africa by the European Fashion Council through its current president, National Fashion Chamber of Bulgaria.
By being in the top 10, Alfonso automatically qualifies for the 10th Bulgarian Fashion Awards 2014 scheduled for July 16, with a prize fund of 100 000 Euros plus a number of assorted fashion related accolades.
“On behalf of the Management Board of the National Fashion Chamber of Bulgaria, we are honoured to announce that you and your fashion brand have been nominated for the Bulgaria Fashion Awards. They are given annually ever since 2002 for overall contribution to the development of the fashion industry.
“In 2014, the prize fund is in the amount of 100 000 Euros and ensures a long term program through sponsoring of seasonal fashion shows for the winner, in the fashion weeks in Bulgaria and international exchange between the fashion weeks in Europe,” reads a letter from the administrative department of the awards.
And to be among the top 10 African designer, the organisers used the world fashion ranking 2014 which has the current state of the global fashion industry, established on the basis of freely raised nominees of the 327 most active top designers and brands in the world.
“Out of these nominations, there were 28 from Africa with six from South Africa, four from Morocco, three from Nigeria, Tunisia and Tanzania had two each while Algeria, Ethiopia, Niger, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Botswana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Cameroon and Malawi having one. From these, they selected the best 10 from Africa,” explained Alfonso.
These 10 will therefore compete with the winner facing off other European designers for the top prize, according to the communication to the designer.
“Your work and activity strongly impressed the nominations commission 2014, which is why you are among 10 competitors for final ranking in number one for Africa and top 10 in the world. The purpose is development and support of strong fashion brands and artists like you, who would not only be prestigious honorary representatives of the fashion industry around the world, but to achieve a sustainable cultural and economic growth as well.
“You were nominated because we see the perspective of your fashion talent, for the growth of which are needed more and more opportunities, national and international recognition, achievement of high personal prosperity and support of other arts and causes through the power of fashion with unique fashion designs,” it reads.
So far, Alfonso is hoping for the best, thus winning the number one spot in Africa and more.
“It is exciting news but I must say it came as a shock because I admire a lot of designers both local and international. This is not only for me, but for the whole of Malawi. I am certain I will make it but if I don’t, I will still celebrate because to make it into the top 10 in Africa, it is no mean achievement for I am competing with designers that went through proper designing schools unlike me,” she said.
