Following the official launch at the MFA Independent Designer Catwalk show earlier this month at the Hyatt Regency, Birmingham, finalists for this year’s Midlands Fashion Awards 2015 have been announced. The glittering awards ceremony is set to take place on Friday 16th October at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, CBSO Centre, with a special performance from Britain’s Got Talent stars The Neales.
This year’s Midlands Fashion Awards will be supporting LoveBrum, the movement for a better Birmingham, with a charity raffle including prizes donated by LoveBrum supporters and ambassadors. Among those contributing are event sponsors Lisa Shepherd Salons, Graziosa, Alan Sharman Agency, Jules Cardozo-Marsh and Style Birmingham.
Focusing on recognizing, inspiring and promoting the wealth of talent within the Midlands, the Midlands Fashion Awards bring the fashion creatives and the fashionistas together for a night of glitz and glamour. Jenny Eason, Founder and Managing Director of the Midlands Fashion Awards said:
“2015 marks the seventh consecutive year for the Midlands Fashion Awards, and each year I’m completely blown away by the talent and creativity of the finalists, it really is just getting better and better! Previous participants have taken their work everywhere from Fashion Week to the Oscars, so this is just the start of the journey and I can’t wait to see what this year’s finalists can do.”
Independent Designer of the Year, Emerging Designer of the Year and Young Finalists will showcase a collection in womenswear, menswear, haute couture or eveningwear, revealing what to watch for SS16 or AW16. In addition, the Accessory Designer of they Year finalists from the MFA Independent Catwalk Show will exhibit their designs to guests before facing final judging by a panel of industry experts. Meanwhile, finalists in the Make-up Artist of the Year category will be mentored and assessed as they are given the opportunity to assist in the production of the catwalk show.
This year’s awards will be judged by a committee of fashion experts, with Jenny Eason, Kim Stephens, Retail Marketing Manager at Resorts World Birmingham, Luke Roper, Managing Director at Luke 1977, Lisa Shepherd, Managing Director at Lisa Shepherd Salons, Andrew Riley, Editor in Chief at Style Birmingham Magazine and renowned make-up artist Jules Cardozo-Marsh all sitting on the panel.
INDEPENDENT DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
- Maurice Whittingham
- Boo-Couture
- FashionSistas
- Dancing Dolls UK
- Tiffany Standford
EMERGING DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
- Kashane Swaby
- C La Rouge Fashion Design
- Eleven Fifty Nine
- Sarah Woodward
- Crooked Knitwear
YOUNG DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
- Georgia Richardson
- Isla Gilbertson
- Abigail Emily Vincent
- Ronja Fell
- Kayleigh Wright
- Sophie Hudson
ACCESSORY DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
- Spirit of Harlequin
- Monday Boutique
- Kavina Tank
- France Leonard
- Magnifique
MAKE-UP ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Leanne Brown
- Gabrielle Hunt
- Fatou Jagne
- Navdeep Makh
Finalists will present their designs as part of an impressive catwalk show at the Midlands Fashion Awards in October, with the winners set to be announced on the night. General tickets are priced at £20 and £38 for VIP tickets, which includes a VIP drinks reception, sponsored by Marmalade, canapés and an exclusive goody bag. All tickets can be purchased online at www.midlandsfashionawards.co.uk