Nominations open for Cape Town Fashion Awards

This is the first time that excellence will be rewarded across the fashion spectrum, from designers to workers, manufacturers and retailers. The fashion festival was initiated by Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers' Union (Sactwu) four years ago to promote the local fashion manufacturing industry - and to keep people in jobs. The awards are a major part of Sactwu's strategy in celebrating local talent and highlighting local design and product innovation, and will be an annual feature on the CTFF calendar.

Nominations are made by individuals, companies and a fashion panel put together by the CTFF. The panel comprises Manana Moroka, CEO of Proudly South African; Sonwabile Ndamase, creator of the Vukani! Fashion awards and executive president of the SA Fashion and Designers Association; Nikki Johnston, editor of Pursuit magazine; Ebrahim Patel, general secretary of Sactwu; and Shakur Olla, menswear designer and manufacturer.

The categories for the awards are:

• Designer of the Year (with the greatest impact on design and on the local fashion manufacturing industry)
• Most promising young designer (showing promise based on their existing portfolio of work)

• Manufacturer of the Year (with the best strategy for sustaining local jobs and fair labour practices)

• SMME of the Year (employing 100 or fewer workers, with best strategy for sustaining local jobs)
• Most promising SMME (employing 100 or fewer workers, with the greatest potential to create jobs)

• 'Buy local' retailer (with the best commitment to local manufacturing)
• Least patriotic retailer (with the worst commitment to local manufacturing)

• Business or individual who best promoted social rights in fashion manufacturing

• Fashion Ambassador (person who has increased the profile of the fashion industry (manufacturing or design)
• Fashion Icon (personality/politician/celebrity who has promoted local fashion through what they wear)

Media Award

• Journalist or media entity for coverage of the fashion industry (design and/or manufacturing) news and trends.

Innovation

• Best Innovator (company or designer who has shown greatest innovation in product, production process, marketing or design)

Nominations may be made on the following websites: Proudly South African (www.proudlysa.co.za) and Pursuit Magazine (www.pursuit.co.za). The closing date is Thursday, 6 April 2006.