Fidossi International Limited held the African Fashion Designers Awards last weekend as part of a move to expand the contribution of the fashion industry to the continent’s economic growth.
 
The event, which was also packaged to reinvigorate Africa’s fashion industry, hosted notable fashion designers across the continent at the Oriental Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos. The African Fashion Designers Awards celebrates top players in the market, driving innovation and inspiring the creative genius of the stakeholders.
  
Sub-Saharan Africa’s fashion market is valued at $31 billion, with Nigeria contributing 15 per cent. Fidossi International Limited provides the energy for this drive while supporting the aspiration of the industry’s top players to engage, socialise, network and scale the current productivity level.
 
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fidossi, Fidelis Egbochie, said: “The Nigeria fashion industry mirrors the scale and potential of the wider African fashion market. Contributing approximately $4.7 billion to the wider African market, the local fashion industry has the potential to boost the current level of the GDP, create jobs and help drive the Federal Government’s economic development agenda.
 
“Fidossi International Limited, a distributor of top wines and spirit brands, is committed to the overall growth plan for the industry and we are lending our weight behind all fashion designers in Nigeria and across the continent.”
  
At the ceremony, Xtacy Conspired won the Emerging Fashion Designer of the Year award; Mimax Xclusive emerged as the African Fashion Urban Award winner; Hope Sana Ebai became the Outstanding Personality in Africa Award winner, amongst others.
  
Commending the sponsor for expanding the fashion design landscape, Chief Executive Officer, African Fashion Designer Awards, Olasunkanmi Dasilva said: “We are proud of the role played so far by Fidossi International Limited in broadening the fashion design landscape and enriching the creativity of players in the fashion industry. This inspiring effort will generate more creativity and engender more productivity which will drive significant growth in the industry’s total market valuation soon.”
 
On what inspired her collection, Director, True Tribe Nation (TTN), Esther Odiahe, who showcased her collections on the runway, said: “African history, craft, art and passion for bringing the new generation on board was my inspiration. We must not forget where culture starts and we must use every avenue to promote it. We play with art on the clothes, shoes and other materials to teach history and promote Africa through fashion.
  
“Fashion is taking us back to our route. My passion inspires my brand to create unique African fashion.”