FASHION FUND 2019 THE INTERVIEW AND SEWING TEST

THE PRE-SELECTION

By September 30, the Fashion Fund Team had received almost 700 submissions from fashion creatives based in Africa and many other places around the world. It was quite achallenge to choose from so many talented designers, each witha story and heaps of ambition. The candidates who showed the most potential were invited for interview.

INTERVIEW AND SEWING TEST

The interviews took place in six different countries during the same week. In each country – Togo, Benin, Ghana, Nigeria, Congo and Ivory Coast – 10 to 15 candidates were interviewed by our jury. Candidates were also required to take a sewing test on the spot, so the jury could assess the technical skills of each designer.

After careful deliberation by the jury members, three nominees were identified.

Find out who the finalists are and why they were selected, right here!

THE JURY MEMBERS

We would like to extend a special thank you to our jury members for sharing their vision and expertise during the selection process of the nominees for this year’s Vlisco Fashion Fund.

Special thanks go to:

In Ivory Coast: Designers Wafa Sarkis and Liliane Estievenart. Gladys Sako from the Vlisco Ivory Coast team.

Togo: Designers Nadiaka, and Chrysken. Entrepreneur Candide Leguede, and the Vlisco Togo team.

Nigeria:

Trusted designers Mai Atafo and Lanre da Silva. Award-winning fashion stylist Style Infidel. Yvonne Chioke from Vlisco.

Benin: The talented Pepita Djoffon, entrepreneur Yenita Bamba, Bailiff Me Mougni, and Barnes Vidjannagni from the Vlisco Benin team.

Ghana: Designers Rosemond Boakye and Seyi Jones. Abranti the Gentleman, Samson Kreation and the Vlisco Ghana team.

Congo: Maddy Mbuaya, Dorcas Didiwa, and Guylaine Lokako and Huguette Kankolongo from the Vlisco team DRC.

Global Jury: The incredible Theo Omambala, our trusted master tailor Alette Noordergraaf, and Vlisco’s brand manager Sanne Huijsmans.