Fashion Event:

MTN Lagos Fashion and Design Week 2012

After a successful debut in 2011, MTN Lagos Fashion and Design Week (LFDW) will return to Lagos and take place at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.

Speaking on the event Omoyemi Akerele, Creative Director of StyleHouse, the producers of LFDW said “Our goal for LFDW 2012 is primarily to make an impact in the Nigerian fashion industry beyond the runway. Fashion is a viable economic driver in Europe and North America and it is no longer just about aesthetics but a business model which
can significantly contribute to Nigerian economy if made part of the agenda.”

LFDW has been at the forefront of growing the Nigerian fashion industry by seeking out various international opportunities for Nigerian fashion designers. In February this year LFDW designers participated in an international
Fashion Showcase in conjunction with the British Fashion Council and British Council to exhibit a cross-section of Nigerian fashion designers in the “Tales by Moonlight” exhibition in London.

Five LFDW designers also attended in June, Pitti Immagine – a fashion trade fair in Florence, Italy which brings together fashion buyers, international press and key players in the international fashion industry. Akerele added “LFDW designers have just returned from a successful international showing at Pitti Immagine, the response we received to their work was phenomenal, and we have created an international appetite for Nigerian fashion as more international fashion buyers are now looking in the direction of Nigeria to stock their stores and all eager to see what comes out of Nigeria this fashion season.“

This year MTN LFDW will host for a period of four days over 20 designers on the runway, showcasing their Spring/Summer collection. The runway shows will be headlined by a guest international designer. The week will also host a series of Awards, namely; The MTN LFDW Awards – Young Designer of the Year co- sponsored by British Council, Young Model of The Year and Young Creative Entrepreneur of The Year which is a British Council initiative.

A number of capacity-building LFDW Seminars in partnership with British Council (LFDW Associate Sponsors) will also hold during the week; which will not only focus on training young Nigerian creatives but also provide mentoring opportunities by international and local names.

Joining the LFDW this year again as Headline sponsor is telecommunications giant MTN. According to the General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN, Kola Oyeyemi, the MTN LFDW is another way through which MTN delivers its brand promise of enriching the lives of its customers via empowering and mentoring platforms that connect with their passion.“MTN is not just in the business of providing its customers with reliable telecom experience, we are continuously seeking different avenues to positively impact the lives of the people and communities we operate in, and fashion provides us a veritable platform which cuts across different segments of the society like age, profession, gender, religion and economic class to contribute to the development of the nation,” he said.

Research In Motion (RIM), the maker of BlackBerry smartphones and tablets, is the Official Technology Partner for
LFDW 2012. “We are proud to support Nigeria’s fashion industry at LFDW for a second year running,” said Waldi
Wepener, Regional Director for East, West and Central Africa at RIM. “BlackBerry smartphones offer the perfect
blend of beautiful design and powerful functionality for busy people with a sense of style, making LFDW an ideal
platform for our brand In fact, BlackBerry is used in the fashion industry all around the world and as a leading
provider of smartphones in Nigeria, we’re proud to support Nigeria’s cutting edge fashion industry.‘

British Council is the Associate Sponsors for LFDW 2012. “British Council is very pleased to be working with LFDW for the second year in a row” said Ojoma Ochai, Assistant Country Manager, British Council Nigeria. “We remain
committed to developing links between young creative entrepreneurs in the United Kingdom and Nigeria; and
helping these young entrepreneurs develop the skills they need for success. We are confident that this year’s
winners, like last year’s, will be innovative and forward thinking entrepreneurs who will maximise the opportunities
that this platform brings”

MTN LFDW 2012 sponsors also include Porsche, Virgin Atlantic, Africa Magic Entertainment, House of Tara and Mania Magazine.

Last year’s MTN LFDW Awards had 3 categories, The MTN British Council Young Designer of the Year, won by Binta Shuaibu who went home with a car, Master Classes facilitated by British Council and a 3 month presence at Le Petit Marche’s monthly pop up store.

MTN British Council Young Creative Entrepreneur Ayotomi Rotimi went home with A Million Naira and a Tour of the United Kingdom’s Fashion Capital during London Fashion Week by British Council and a MTN

This year, the stakes have been raised! With Cash Prizes from From 2 Million to 4 Million Naira to be won from MTN, Master Classes facilitated by British Council and prizes from RIM Blackberry, MTN LFDW’s Official Technical Partner.

MTN Lagos Fashion and Design Week (LFDW) which is scheduled to take place from the 24th -27th of October 2012, is calling out to all Young designers and Creative Entreprenuers willing to participate in the awards categories.

Categories

• MTN British Council Young Designer of the Year (YDE) – Cash prize of N4,000,000, business mentoring and capacity building working workshops
• British Council Young Creative Entrepreneur of the Year (YCE) – Cash prize of N2,000,000 and a tour of the London Fashion Week
• MTN Young Model of the Year – Cash prize of N1,000,000 and a modelling contract

Application forms are available for download on the official website www.lagosfashionanddesignweek.com. All applications close on the 10th of August 2012.