More than 50 designers from across 20 African countries showed at the inaugural ARISE Africa Fashion Week. And then after it was all over, a magnificent party was held to celebrate the fashion of Africa, the designers who made it so incredible and the people who supported them. But what went on behind the scenes and who really looked amazing on the black carpet? AFI News was there to find out.
Socialising in the foyer of the Pavilion Room at the Sandton Convention Centre, there was much to see as we waited to enter the amazing ball room that had been a backstage production area just a couple of days before. Somehow, within 48 hours, this enormous space had been transformed into a fairyland dining area with a massive stage, fit for one of the world’s newest and most exciting fashion awards ceremonies.
Not only that, but one of the world’s leading supermodels, the gracious Alek Wek, originally from the Sudan, was there to announce and hand out these awards.
As I watched all the glamorous people arrive for the awards, I was struck by how incredibly elegant so many looked in their African-designed gowns. As stunning as any awards carpet anywhere in the world, the black carpet of the ARISE Africa Fashion Awards was a testament to the quality and excellence of our local design talent. There is no doubt that the dazzling black carpet gowns were the result of some very generous and dedicated local designers, many of whom had participated in the ARISE Africa Fashion Week just days before.
I spoke to Malcolm and Christiaan in the foyer and asked them how many of the ladies they had dressed for the evening. “Oh, we had about 50 ladies calling us today and we probably have around 20 wearing Klûk CGDT here tonight,” they told me. “We were so busy that we didn’t even have time to hang up the dresses that were discarded. But it is worth it to see so many here tonight.” As winners of the ARISE Award for red carpet, Klûk CGDT was definitely the dress of choice for the occasion.
Wearing an emerald green strapless creation from the Klûk CGDT collection, Jenna Dover really stood out. Lindiwe Suttle in a lilac one-shouldered creation also from Klûk CGDT was quite spectacular.
Another designer whose signature was all over the ball room was ARISE award winner for Designer of the Year, David Tlale. AFI’s COO, Hannelize, looked like a princess in her soft gold floor length creation with a draped lantern skirt. Vista, the fashion week PR guy, also wore David Tlale, demonstrating the designer’s versatility and innovative eye.
And AFI News? Well, we wore the most fabulous beads from ARISE award winner for Innovation in Design, Ituen Basi, with a very simple black satin cocktail dress. Not quite as spectacular as the rest, but with real pride in the designer’s work.
R. Kelly provided the entertainment for the night. While incredibly popular across Africa, he has never made the trip out here due to his fear of flying. And so for the first time ever, for the inaugural ARISE Africa Fashion Awards, he played his first African stage for us all to enjoy. In recognition of his popularity and commitment to the occasion, he was awarded the ARISE Friend of Africa award.
Behind the scenes gossip is always the best fun, but there is one high profile couple who really got down and dirty to the musical stylings of R. Kelly that shall remain our own little secret. Sitting just behind them in the ballroom, I was actually touched by their love and devotion to each other and their ability to have so much fun after many years together. If only all celebrity couples were like this! Or maybe it was just the spirit of the ARISE Africa Fashion Awards that brought out the best in them.
Until next year!
Here is the full list of winners from the ARISE Africa Fashion Awards 2009:
1. ARISE Award for Emerging Designer of the Year – Christie Brown (Ghana)
2. ARISE Award for Innovation in Fashion Design – Ituen Basi (Nigeria)
3. ARISE Award for Fashion Business – Maponya Mall (South Africa)
4. ARISE Award for Red Carpet Design – Klûk CGDT (South Africa)
5. ARISE Award for Creativity in Fashion – AngloGold Ashanti and Suzaan Heyns
6. ARISE Award for Most Promising Designer – joint winners Heni
(South Africa) and Eyola (Nigeria)
7. ARISE Award for International Model of the Year – Oluchi (Nigeria)
8. ARISE Award for Fashion Model of the Year – Ajuma (Kenya)
9. ARISE Award for Designer of the Year – joint winners David Tlale
(South Africa) and Tiffany Amber (Nigeria)
10. ARISE Award for Friend of Africa – R. Kelly
The joint winners of the Designer of the Year award will show at Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week in September as part of the ARISE African Collective show.
“Well done to you and your team on another great event. It truly is a pleasure to have the degree of professionalism that you all show. The response has been phenomenal and I look forward to showing my whole collection at Cape Town Fashion Week. Keep up the good work and I am sure African design will become more of a contender with the continued exposure and support from AFI.” Craig Port, Designer
