“Gold String” for SA fashion designer

Three young fashion designers were awarded prizes at the third edition of the competition Africa is in Fashion, which took place within the framework of the International Festival of African Fashion.

The three winners are Thokozani Freedom Mbatha, AKA Black Pepper (South Africa) for the Gold String Ibrahim Loutou Prize, Salah Barka (Tunisia) for the Silver String Prize, Charlotte Mbatsogo (Cameroon) for the Copper String Prize and a special prize was awarded to Hamidou Seydou Harira, AKA Harira (Niger).

Financial support

As part of his prize Mbatha will receive financial support for the creation of a fashion studio (the costs will cover the salaries of the employees, equipment, publicity, fabrics, etc.) and a new forthcoming collection as well as an internship in a fashion house.

The competition Africa is in Fashion/L'Afrique est à la mode aims to promote young African designers and give them exposure to the international fashion industry. The competition allows 10 young African fashion designers (between 18 and 35 years old), selected by application, to showcase 10 garments each of prêt-à-porter or haute couture.

Mbatha's travel to Niamey was sponsored by the French Institute of South Africa. The competition is organised by the Africa and Caribbean Creative Arts department at Culturesfrance within the framework of the International Festival of African Fashion (FIMA).