MTN Lagos Fashion Week 2012

The MTN Lagos Fashion and Design Week (LFDW) will take place on the 24th - 27th of October 2012 and I am really looking forward to it. I hope I will be able to attend because I have been crazy busy (will also like to apologise for being MIA lately).

In addition to showcasing the best of the Spring/Summer 2013 collections from Nigeria’s premier designers, the week will once again present The MTN LFDW Awards where cash awards will be given to the Young Designer of the Year, Young Creative Entrepreneur of The Year and the Young Model of The Year.

Speaking on the event Omoyemi Akerele, Creative Director of StyleHouse, the producers of LFDW said “Our goal for LFDW 2012 is primarily to make an impact in the Nigerian fashion industry beyond the runway. Fashion is a viable economic driver in Europe and North America and it is no longer just about aesthetics but a business model which can significantly contribute to Nigerian economy if made part of the agenda.”

LFDW has been at the forefront of growing the Nigerian fashion industry by seeking out various international opportunities for Nigerian fashion designers. In February this year LFDW designers participated in an international Fashion Showcase in conjunction with the British Fashion Council and British Council to exhibit a cross-section of Nigerian fashion designers in the “Tales by Moonlight” exhibition in London.

Lagos, the budding fashion city was the last stop for the screenings. As expected, the metropolitan did not disappoint! By far the most attended screening, the crowd gathered on the 13th of August at the British Council, a LFDW sponsor and the perfect venue for the “Center of Excellence”.

The judges for the Lagos screenings were MTN’s Bukola Kajero and Ibobo Chukwuma; Ojoma Ochai from British Council; Veronica Odeka-Ebie of Vanestyle, and fashion designer Lanre DaSilva-Ajayi who were incharge of picking models, designers and those being considered for the Young Creative Entrepreneur category. They reached an agreement, the list is out and those nominated are:

2012 MTN Lagos Fashion and Design Week Awards - Young Designer Category – Finalists

• Agu Anumudu
• Ponmile Olawoye
• Karen Jacobs
• Jennifer Adighije
• Kehinde Osotimehin
• Wana Sambo
• Uju Offiah
• Wisdom Anaba
• Orange Culture
• Buchi Okoro
• Joshua Udiminue
• Kopho Jomo

2012 MTN Lagos Fashion and Design Week Awards - Young Creative Entrepreneur Category – Finalists

• Ogo Atariete
• Olajide Okerayi
• Isoken Ogiemwonyi
• Yusuf Kolawole Kuddus of Kola Kuddus – who was the 1st finalist for the YCE awards in Lagos, and took home the Blackberry 9230, a gift from MTN LFDW Official Technology Partners, RIM Blackberry.

2012 MTN Lagos Fashion and Design Week Awards – Prizes

• MTN British Council Young Designer of the Year (YDE), which includes a cash prize of N4,000,000, business mentoring and capacity building working workshops
• MTN British Council Young Creative Entrepreneur of the Year (YCE), which includes a cash prize of N2,000,000 and a tour of the London Fashion week
• MTN Young Model of the Year which includes a cash prize of N1,000,000