SA fashion designer Lukhanyo Mdingi wins prestigious Amiri Prize, bagging R1.9m

South African fashion designer Lukhanyo Mdingi was selected as the winner of this year’s Amiri Prize, which sees him bag $100,000 (about R1.9 million) and a year-long mentorship programme.

The designer from Cape Town said he was proud of his whole team for the win.

“To be under the aegis of this institute is a true reflection of what it means to be of service and purpose to others,” said Mdingi on his Instagram.

The Amiri Prize is an inclusive annual award and incubator established to encourage, nurture and showcase up-and-coming talent from fashion and fashion-adjacent fields that otherwise might not have their voices heard.

“I can express that the LM Team and community-at-large is thankful to the jury members, the Amiri Group and Mike Amiri himself for the selection,” averred Mdingi.

Mdingi becomes the third recipient of the prestigious prize established by US fashion designer Mike Amiri. The Amiri Prize jury was on the hunt for a designer with a convincing commercial perspective and the creative profile to make an impact in the US and broader international market.

Mdingi’s ready-to-wear brand, Lukhanyo Mdingi was established in 2015. Originally from East London, Mdingi moved to Cape Town to study fashion design at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.

He first made his mark on the local fashion scene as a finalist in the Elle Rising Star Design Awards, soon after which he was selected to participate in Design Indaba’s prestigious Emerging Creatives platform.

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Lukhanyo impresses

Speaking to Vogue Business, Amiri said they as jury were immediately impressed by Mdingi’s work.

“We were immediately impressed by Lukhanyo’s distinct and considered vision and commitment to working with local South African artisans,”

“This notion of artisan collaboration and community celebration resonates with our own ethos and sensibility. There’s an intimacy and authenticity to Lukhanyo’s work, translating a rich history of craft-making within a contemporary, mindful spirit.”

Part of Mdingi’s winnings is a year-long mentorship with Amiri.

“Mentorship is something that is truly invaluable,” said the 31 year-old Mdingi, speaking to Vogue Business.

“Entering the [competition] felt like an opportunity we wanted to lean on. I’m so thankful we did because it led to us [to] winning and being in a position to utilise the mentorship.”

“Lukhanyo has already done an amazing job of gaining international acclaim and we hope to help him further this, bringing his story to a wider audience,” said Amiri.

“We want to provide him the guidance and resources to maintain his commitment to local craft while at the same time establishing a strong foundation and infrastructure to scale his business.”

Amiri has a recent interaction with Mzansi, as he created the jacket worn by Black Coffee at his Madison Square Garden show, which was a painting – by South African artist Wonderbuhle – of Black Coffee’s mother and grandmothers.

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