Vlisco announces the 7 winners of the Vlisco Fashion Fund 2018

Vlisco very proudly announces the winners of the Vlisco Fashion Fund 2018:

Jeremiah Mensah from Ghana, Adriana Talansi from Congo, Omotayo Paramole from Nigeria, Anoumou Djiedjole Placca from Togo, Lionel Guezodje from Benin, Anne-Beatrice Awoundjia Bodo from Cameroon and Guillaine Kouamé from Cote D’Ivoire.

The Vlisco Fashion Fund is a global contest, established to help emerging African fashion designers get their business off the ground. The seven winners each receive funding equivalent to €5,000, plus a two-week masterclass in the Netherlands.

Over 600 applications were submitted to the Vlisco Fashion Fund 2018. A meticulous review process of the applications took place, followed by interviews conducted by local jury panels in each country. Based on the interviews, three nominees per country went through to the next round. The remaining 21 nominees were then given Vlisco fabrics and a budget with which to create a collection of five outfits supported by surprising creative content within a one-month deadline.

During the last week in November, the Global Jury reviewed the creations of the 21 finalists and reached its decision on which seven contestants would be crowned winners of the Vlisco Fashion Fund 2018.

In the past three weeks, award ceremonies were held in the six countries. The creations and content of the undoubtedly nervous finalists of each country were being showcased on the runways to excited audiences. At the end of each ceremony, the winners were revealed. Read more about the winners below.

Ghana

Jeremiah Mensah (27) owns the unisex fashion label JEREY MENSAH. The jury was blown away by Jeremiah’s Gladiator-inspired collection, which was detailed, impeccably executed and found to be very imaginative and original. Jeremiah’s collection and content paves the way for other fashion designers to experiment. Ghanaian runners-up were Patricia Naa Lamley Annang and Nana Kweku Agyenim-Boateng.

Jeremiah Mensah

Revolutie

Jeremiah Mensah

Revolutie

The collection is inspired by the epic phenomenon and legend of Gladiators. Jeremiah Mensah sees gladiators as revolutionary, groundbreaking beings who pave the way for others. In his garments, he questions and challenges conventions in fashion and advocates a fluid understanding of predetermined concepts and definitions. As patterns are rarely seen in menswear, Jeremiah seeks to revolutionise menswear by embracing the print and bringing it back into fashion.

Nigeria

Omotayo Paramole (28) is a student at the creative art department (textile major) of the University of Lagos. Tayo’s label is called Tesmi. The jury was impressed by the eccentric garments of his collection. The collection and creative content revolved around a historical and traditional story, which struck the jury as interesting, captivating and engaging, as well as original and beautiful. The runners-up for Nigeria were Karen Ayuba and Precious Odiase.

Tayo Paramole

Osun

Osun is the Yoruba goddess of the river, fertility, love, beauty and order. She is the fountain of sacred wisdom and the Queen of Witches. While she is beneficent and generous, she also has a malevolent and tempestuous side. As the queen of witches, she is associated with the Gelede masquerade. Inspired by her multifaceted nature, this collection creatively tries to portray the goddess Osun in light of her four faces in four different outfits. These four faces or facets are: Her Royalty, Her Gaiety, Her Fury and Her Passion.

Tayo Paramole

Osun

Osun is the Yoruba goddess of the river, fertility, love, beauty and order. She is the fountain of sacred wisdom and the Queen of Witches. While she is beneficent and generous, she also has a malevolent and tempestuous side. As the queen of witches, she is associated with the Gelede masquerade. Inspired by her multifaceted nature, this collection creatively tries to portray the goddess Osun in light of her four faces in four different outfits. These four faces or facets are: Her Royalty, Her Gaiety, Her Fury and Her Passion.

Congo

Adriana Talansi (27) emerged as the winner for Congo. Her collection was inspired by Asia and her creative content was set in oriental atmospheres. The jury appreciated the meeting of the two different cultures in her garments and presentation. Adriana owns the label Talansi and is ready to make her first marks in the fashion scene. Runners-up for Congo’s Fashion Fund were Richie Maya and Job Lukadi.

Adrianna Talansi

An Oriental Story

Adrianna Talansi takes us on a journey to the Orient in a collection inspired by the Far East. The shapes in her silhouettes transcend the known lines of the body. The blissful, clean and strong forms in her garments harmoniously clash with the vibrant motifs of the Vlisco fabrics. The colours of the fabrics merge and blend with the setting of the photo shoot, transporting you somewhere far, faraway.

Adrianna Talansi

An Oriental Story

Adrianna Talansi takes us on a journey to the Orient in a collection inspired by the Far East. The shapes in her silhouettes transcend the known lines of the body. The blissful, clean and strong forms in her garments harmoniously clash with the vibrant motifs of the Vlisco fabrics. The colours of the fabrics merge and blend with the setting of the photo shoot, transporting you somewhere far, faraway.

Benin

Lionel Guezodje (28) was chosen as the fashion fund winner for Benin. Guezodje graduated in haute couture and styling from ESMOD Tunisia. In 2017, he founded his label “by Francel”. The jury fell for Lionel’s collection “The Contemporary Monarch of Wax”. The highly feminine collection was both glamorous and unusual at the same time. Neatly finished and full of surprising details. The creative content, set in a rusty brown surrounding, made the garments pop out. The runners-up for Benin were Petros Tetteh and Paola Sah.

Lionel Guezodje

The Contemporary Monarch of Wax

In his collection, The Contemporary Monarch of Wax, Lionel Guezodje explores regal silhouettes that celebrate the wax fabric as much as the elegant woman who wears it. His looks communicate several characteristics of women of royalty : committed, seductive, entrepreneurial and elegant.

Lionel Guezodje

The Contemporary Monarch of Wax

In his collection, The Contemporary Monarch of Wax, Lionel Guezodje explores regal silhouettes that celebrate the wax fabric as much as the elegant woman who wears it. His looks communicate several characteristics of women of royalty : committed, seductive, entrepreneurial and elegant.

Togo

Anoumou Djiedjole Placca (29) truly impressed the jury with his collection made for the final round. Anoumou Djiedjole Placca has a brand called ARISTIDE CREATION. His collection and content for the final round told the story of a king in search of the woman of his dreams. The jury was impressed by the storytelling qualities of Placca’s presentation, and the execution of the content. The runners-up were Akouvi Medarde Danyo and Djiedjom Hundeglah.

Anoumou Placca

The importance and value of Vlisco Tchigan Vor loincloth (grand loincloth in Mina language) at wedding ceremonies in Guin country in the lake region of southern Togo.

Anoumou Placca

The importance and value of Vlisco Tchigan Vor loincloth (grand loincloth in Mina language) at wedding ceremonies in Guin country in the lake region of southern Togo.

Placca’s collection tells the story of a young King seeking to marry a woman from one of the townships surrounding the village of Guin. The young king meets several women who are dressed in colours and silhouettes that refer to aspects of their personalities. The king has great difficulty chosing from all the different women, who all look beautiful and have admirable personalities.

Global

The global category was an extremely difficult choice with such exceptional content and garments made by the three finalists from three different countries. The Global Jury chose Anne-Beatrice Awoundjia Bodo from Cameroon as the winner for this category, because of her exceptional experimental clothes and content, inspired by tribal fashion from Cameroon. The runners-up for the Global category were Abiola Akinsiku and Marthe Sharon Ngwe Nolla.

Anne Béatrice Bodo

from Cameroon – Vlisco in a Feminine Associative Mode

Anne Béatrice Bodo

from Cameroon – Vlisco in a Feminine Associative Mode

Central to this collection is the encounter between the Vlisco fabric and the symbolism and identity of Cameroon’s traditional community of women. The Sudano-Sahelian cotton weavings and their somber Koranic embroidery meet colourful Vlisco designs in Anne-Beatrice’s silhouettes. The collection and content also reinterpret the traditional helmets and horn masks known to Cameroon, and honour Nobel Peace prizewinner Nadia Murad. Anne-Beatrice staged a performance of a fashion show in the Bayam Sellam area, where target fashion clientele is located. The performance led to awe, appreciation and spontaneous participation, demonstrative of the love for local traditions and new interpretations.

Ivory Coast

Guillaine Kouame emerged as the winner for Ivory Coast, chosen by the local jury. The jury was impressed by the eclectic mixes of materials used in her designs. Guillaine mixed Vlisco fabrics with surprising elements as feathers, paper cut-outs and fringes. The other finalists of RCI were Amara Abdoulaziz Kone and Wahouie Tea Judicael.

Guillaine Kouame

Le Petit Monde de Guillaine: A mix of art and elegance

Guillaine wanted to create a collection of outfits fit for a parade. In Le Petit Monde de Guillaine, she has created garments that are elegant, sensational and strong, yet out of the ordinary. Her collection shows that art, fashion and elegance can be worn beautifully. Guillaine incorporated theatrical details into each of her outfits, such as artificial flowers, paper, feathers and lace.

Guillaine Kouame

Le Petit Monde de Guillaine: A mix of art and elegance

Guillaine wanted to create a collection of outfits fit for a parade. In Le Petit Monde de Guillaine, she has created garments that are elegant, sensational and strong, yet out of the ordinary. Her collection shows that art, fashion and elegance can be worn beautifully. Guillaine incorporated theatrical details into each of her outfits, such as artificial flowers, paper, feathers and lace.