With
so many global brands competing for a share of the African fashion market, it’s
vital to strengthen Africa’s innate fashion potential, consolidating the
African brands here and in the competitive markets globally. In the
highly competitive world of fashion, ELLE Rising Star Design Award in
association with MRP is searching for the next Rising Star of African fashion.
The
six finalists in the ELLE Rising Star Award 2015 in association with MRP are
ready to bring their full ranges to life, where they will be showcasing their
talent later in the month hosted by African Fashion International on 25
November, where the winner will be announced.
The
six finalists in the ELLE Rising Star Award 2015 in association with MRP have
been selected, and are now hard at work completing their collections.
As
part of the programme, they are receiving business skills training through a
nine-week online course run by Get Smarter and the University of Cape Town, all
while, supported by MRP. They are bringing their full ranges to life, which
will be shown at an event hosted by African Fashion International on 25
November at Johannesburg’s hottest new venue, The Park - Hyde Park, where the
winner will be announced. African Fashion International will be showcasing
their four AFI Fastrack finalists’ collections and announce their Young
Designer of the Year 2015.
This
year’s ELLE Rising Star winner will receive R30 000 in cash from MRP to help
launch his or her fashion career; intensive two-week internships with both MRP
and ELLE; the opportunity to redesign a range to be sold in select MRP stores;
the opportunity to show a range at the 2016 ELLE Rising Star Design Awards; and
an annual subscription to ELLE.
The
final six were selected by combining the assessments of the judging panel with
online readers’ votes. The talented finalists are: Cara Geach (24) and Bianca
Messina (24) of Cape Peninsula University of Technology; Daisie Jo Grobler (20)
and Blünke Janse van Rensburg (21) of Elizabeth Galloway Academy of Fashion
Design, Stellenbosch; Hamza Guelmouss (20) of Morocco’s Casa Moda Academy; and
Siyabonga Ntini (22) of Durban University of Technology.
