Local fashionistas in globe awards finals
Two of the country’s renowned fashionistas Lorraine Kljajic and Chimwemwe Ngugi Buleya have made it into the finals of two international awards, namely African Fashion Designer Awards and Zikomo Awards, respectively.
Fashion promoter, Kljajic has been nominated for Best Africa Fashion Promoter of the Year at the Africa Fashion Designer Awards.
This is the second time for Kljajic, who is also Lush Africa director, to be nominated for the same award after winning it in 2020.
“I first won it in 2020 and to be nominated again this year is absolutely heart-warming. I hope to take the award home again,” she said.
Kljajic said she is honoured as this year her fellow nominees are not individuals, but big brands from west African countries.
She is competing against African Fashion TV, Naija Tailor, Naija Fashion Designer and Lodi Afredro Mahouma.
“I am glad Malawi is on the list. It’s high time we are known as powerful players in the global fashion world,” she added.
On the other hand, fashion designer Buleya has been nominated for Best Female Fashion Designer at this year’s Zikomo Awards scheduled to take place in Zambia.
Buleya, popularly known as Ngugi International, said she feels honoured and excited to be nominated among other African fashion designers to represent Malawi.
“It’s a blessing to just be nominated. It’s something I am really grateful for. As a fashion designer from Malawi, it means so much because it gives room for networking and corroborating with other fashion designers from all over Africa,” she said.
Buleya said the development provides a platform to share and learn from each other.
“This is one of the tools to help other fashion designers and it also gives exposure to Malawi,” she noted.
In 2020, Ngugi started her brand of children’s clothes.
The two local nominees say they now need votes to win the awards.
To vote for Kljajic, one need to go to https://africafashiondesignerawards.com and to vote for Buleya, follow the link to vote https://www.zikomoawards.com.
The Africa Fashion Designer Awards are based in Uganda but celebrate fashion from across Africa. They are scheduled to take place on October 28. Zikomo Awards celebrate music, poetry, fashion and drama. Their headquarters are in Zambia, but target arts players from around the continent.
