The tenth annual Bulgarian Fashion Awards, to be held in Bulgaria on July 16th, has released its list of the world’s top designers selected to compete for a prize worth €100,00 – and African talents Frank Osodi (of Nigeria’s House of Bunor), Sidahmed Seidnali (behind label Alphadi, of Niger) and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac (of Morocco) are on it, alongside fashion giants Carolina Herrera, Dsquared and Oscar De La Renta.
327 nominees were first selected by the organisers (who considered the current activity and creativity within the global fashion industry in 2014), in which 28 African designers were shortlisted, including Lanvin’s Alba Elbaz and Max Azria.
Since then, the public has had the chance to vote for their favourites in several stages of the competion, via the organisation’s Facebook page, where currently, Mr Oshodi, Mr Siednali and Mr Castelbajac remain.
As if being selected alongside fashion’s big names isn’t an achievement enough, each designer has the chance to compete with their collections for a prize worth €100,00, and are invited to attend the awards via a letter from the administrative department of the Bulgarian Fashion Council’s current president, which, states;
“On behalf of the management board of the National Fashion Chamber of Bulgaria, we are honoured to announce that you and your fashion brand have been nominated for the Bulgarian Fashion Awards. They are given annually ever since 2002 for overall contribution to the international fashion industry.
In 2014, the prize fund is in the amount of €100,00 and ensures a long-term programme through sponsoring of seasonal fashion shows for the winner, in the fashion weeks in Bulgaria and international exchange between the fashion weeks in Europe.”
We at SPICE wish all the nominees the very best and congratulate them on their recognition alongside such celebrated names in fashion. We also eagerly await the announcement of the winner and hope it’s one of Africa’s brilliant designers who’s awarded the prize.
Image source: Facebook.com/BulgarianFashionAwards, Creative-africa.org, Boemagazine.com, Theoctopusnews.com
