Ozwald Boateng and others win Africa Fashion Awards

Africa Fashion Week drew to a glamorous close when the leading lights in the fashion industry were recognized at the second annual African Fashion Awards.

South Africa’s Black Coffee won the Designer of the year award: Africa; and Nigerian born designer Duro Olowu was presented with the International designer of the year award by Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week’s organizer Fern Mallis. Both designers receive R150,000.00 prize money.

Marianne Fassler (South Africa) was acknowledged as having made the most outstanding contribution to fashion in Africa, whilst Nigerian’s Ituen Bassi won the emerging designer of the year : Africa award; with husband and wife team Bunmin Koko, also of Nigeria, winning the international emerging designer of the year award.

International Supermodel Sessilee Lopez won the model of the year award; whilst Grace Jones won the inaugural Miriam Makeba Style Icon of the Year Award: Grace Jones.

The full list of winners is as follows:

Designer of the Year: Africa - Black Coffee

Designer of the Year: International – Duro Olowu

Emerging Designer of the Year: Africa – Ituen Basi

Emerging Designer of the Year: International – Bunmi Koko

Menswear Designer of the Year: Africa- Stiaan Louw

Menswear Designer of the Year: International: Ozwald Boateng

Accessories Designer of the Year: Albertus Swanepoel

Contribution to Styling: Edward Enninful

Contribution to Photography: Koto Bolofo

Contribution to Make Up: Pat McGrath

Contribution to Hair: Saadique

Model of the Year: Sessilee Lopez

Fashion Communicator of the Year: BellaNaija.com

R-Etailer of the Year: Africhic.com

Miriam Makeba Style Icon of the Year Award: Grace Jones

Male Style influencer: Michael Jackson

Lifetime Achievement Award: Yves Saint Laurent, Azzedine Alaia and Joseph Ettendgui.

Hosted by Bonang and Colin Moss the awards featured performances by Salaelo Selota; Naeto C; Sahsa, CrashCarBurn, Somini, Rhythmic Elements and Liquid Deep, the Africa Fashion Awards took place at the Sandton Convention centre in Johannesburg.

The Africa Fashion Awards highlight industry excellence and outstanding contributions by fashion industry members of African descent world-wide.