ELLE RISING STAR FINAL SIX GET SET TO DEBUT THEIR COLLECTIONS

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.