The Annual Vukani! Fashion Award winners announced

NEWTOWN – Young fashion designers scoop awards at the Annual Vukani! Fashion Awards 2015

November 26, 2015

1 minute read

Sonwabile Ndamase, Simo Matomela, Zamaswazi Sithole, Mmaphefo Dibetso, Gauteng MEC for Infrastructure Nandi Mayathule-Khoza and Firdoze Bulbulia. Photo supplied.

Winners of the 2015 Annual Vukani! Fashion Awards were announced.

The South African Fashion Designers Agency (Safda) paid tribute to the winners and participants at Newtown Junction Mall on 21 November.

The 21st edition of the awards was generously sponsored by Safda in partnership with the FP&M (Fibre Processing and Manufacturing) Seta.

Sonwabile Ndamase hands awards to winning fashion designers Mmaphefo Dibetso, Zamaswazi Sithole and Simo Matomela. Photo supplied.

The evening’s High Fashion Award went to Mmaphefo Dibetso.

The award for Most Innovative Designer was presented to Simo Matomela while Zamaswazi Sithole took home the Best Ready to Wear award.

Recipients in each category received generous financial support with the overall winner Zamaswazi Sithole taking R40 000, while Simo Matomela and Mmaphefo Dibetso both received R20 000 each.

The winners will also be enrolled on a 6-month mentorship programme to the value of R35 000 from Vukani Range Creations.

Sonwabile Ndamase congratulates the Most Innovative Designer, Simo Matomela. Photo supplied. — Sonwabile Ndamase congratulates the Most Innovative Designer, Simo Matomela.
Photo supplied.

The founder of Vukani!Awards, Sonwabile Ndamase said, “Fashion creates dreams and makes them happen. We are thrilled to see platforms such as the annual Vukani Fashion Awards act as a tool that offers opportunities to support the South African fashion community.”

He added that the impact of winning an award for an emerging designer is invaluable and in line with their commitment to foster the next generation of talent.

VIP guests on the evening included Metro FM talk show host Criselda Kananda, former model and actress Advocate Nakedi Ribane and Gauteng Province MEC for Infrastructure Nandi Mayathula- Khoza who was a key speaker at the event.