Chris Theko
Lesotho Fashion Week (LSFW) has decided to declare the top three contestants as winners of the wool and mohair garments competition.
The three winners are Da Vna, Avant Cee Elle, and Cograbig.
The competition that began in July, saw fashion designers being challenged to come up with creative pieces that had a wool and mohair detail to them.
The best local fashion designers were shortlisted entered into a competition that ran from July and set to end on 30 September but the announcement of the overall winner was then postponed to 31 October 2020.
The LSFW founder Mahali Granier said after much thought and consideration, the Executive of Board of LSFW came up with a strategy to help farmers to secure domestic markets for their wool and mohair while simultaneously providing a much needed cushion and marketing for the remaining three designers.
“Since its launch, LSFW has been at the forefront of promoting and nurturing young local talent. It only makes sense that in line with this ambitious goal, we have decided to declare Avant Cee Elle, Cograbig and Da Vna as the joint winners of the inaugural LSFW wool and Mohair fashion design contest,†Grainier said.
The three winners will each showcase a full ten piece collection made of wool and mohair, for free at the next season of LSFW, valued at M20 000 each.
LSFW had earlier this year made a call to fashion designers to apply to be part of the contest where the competition was run online through social media channels like Facebook and Instagram and the public was invited to vote for the best designs. Each week the designers with the lowest public votes were eliminated.
LSFW will host its first ever digital edition of the contest in December from 12-13. This season local and international fashion designers will showcase collections using a hybrid of physical and digital presentations.
The physical presentation will comprise of a maximum of 100 handpicked VIP guests, comprised of A-list celebrities, photographers, editors and media houses, showcasing designers, fashion bloggers, influencers and high level dignitaries.
“The step-change in digital arrives in a hastened bid to accommodate post-Covid19 health guidelines as social gatherings and recreational travel remain taboo. This will be a by-invitation-only event. No tickets will be sold to the public,†said Grainier.
According to Grainier the three winners of LSFW wool and mohair Design contest have subsequently been invited to digitally showcase at Mzuzu Fashion Week in Malawi
“Mzuzu Fashion Week is in its sixth year and is Malawi’s biggest marketing platform for designers, models and fashion industry professionals to launch their brands†she said.
Mzuzu fashion Week will take place on 26-31 October 2020 and will kick off with a Fashion cocktail at Malville Boutique Hotel in Lilongwe.
The event will conclude with staging of a runway shows that will stream virtually to an international audience. The three joint winners of LSFW contest are amongst the 26 international fashion designers that are confirmed to showcase in Malawi.