THE sixth edition of the Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards (ASFAs), under the theme ‘Fashion is Power’, seeks to highlight that fashion is integral to identity but also provides different avenues and opportunities that are key to the growth of Africa’s economy by tackling unemployment.
Based in Kampala, Uganda, the ASFAs will also highlight the transition of the fashion industry over the years with celebrity red carpet appearances and showcases from Africa’s top designers and models, blended with remarkable performances from both local and international artists.
The awards show celebrates and acknowledges stakeholders in the African fashion industry. So far, despite being relatively new to the awards, Namibia has started to make a mark and has scooped nominations and wins with Reinhard Mahalie and Antonia Shinana scooping the southern African awards for best stylist and best fashionista respectively in 2016.
The categories feature creatives such as designers, fashion photographers, make-up and hair stylists as well as models and celebrities, among others.
In line with the theme, this year’s show will feature a special category: Fashion entrepreneur, which will honour one African entrepreneur for their outstanding commercial success in fashion or personal brand, especially regarding fashion as a solution to the current unemployment problem among the youth. Other honorary categories include the lifetime/fashion icon achievement award and the humanitarian award for work in fashion.
Nominations for the awards officially started on 27 August and close on 27 September.
Since the inaugural ceremony in 2013, the ASFAs have recognised talented designers, models, personalities and brands across the globe such as Lupita Nyong’o, Trevor Stuurman, David Tlale, Amito Stacey Lagum, Tiwa Savage, Millen Magese, Mai Atafo, Santa Anzo, Sylvia Owori, Anitah Beryl, Ali Kiba, Mafikizolo and Shanelle Nyasaise.
The event has been graced by notable guest appearances such as the queen of Buganda, Sylvia Nagginda and the princess of Toro Elizabeth Bagaya, executive director of KCCA Jennifer Musisi, British-Ghanaian designer Ozwald Boateng and Jose Chameleon.
The show will be streamed live on the official Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards online platforms, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, when it takes place on 7 December at the Serena Hotel in Kampala, Uganda.
This year’s nominees and eventual winners are to be selected and vetted based on their representation of African fashion through their works, with a focus on the manifestation of ‘Post-Modernism Meets Africanism’.
Visit abryanzstyleandfashionawards.com for more information.
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