27-year old Ghanaian fashion designer, Jeremy Mensah has been adjudged the winner of the 2018 Vlisco fashion fund.
At an event in Accra, the talented designer beat stiff competition from two other finalists to emerge winner. In an emotionally-charged moment at the Accra mall, Mensah received his cash price of 25,000 Ghana cedis from Vlisco and a fully expense-paid trip to the Netherlands, the home of the textile giant
How the winner was selected
Over 600 applications were submitted to the Vlisco Fashion Fund 2018. A meticulous review process of the applications took place, followed by interviews conducted by local jury panels in each country. Based on the interviews, three nominees per country went through to the next round. The remaining 21 nominees were then given Vlisco fabrics and a budget with which to create a collection of five outfits supported by surprising creative content within a one-month deadline. During the last week in November, the Global Jury reviewed the creations of the 21 finalists and reached its decision on which seven contestants would be crowned winners of the Vlisco Fashion Fund 2018. Jeremiah Mensah truly impressed the jury with his work/talent, and has been selected as the winner in Ghana.
Jeremiah Mensah (27) owns the unisex fashion label JEREY MENSAH. The jury was blown away by Jeremiah’s Gladiator-inspired collection, which was detailed, impeccably executed and found to be very imaginative and original. Jeremiah’s collection and content paves the way for other fashion designers to experiment. Ghanaian runners-up were Patricia Naa Lamley Annang and Nana Kweku Agyenim-Boateng.
Funding and Masterclass
The prize funding must be invested into the winners’ respective businesses to facilitate growth. For example, to help finance the set-up of a studio, new equipment etc. Each winner will also be invited to attend a masterclass in tailoring at Meester Coupeur, a renowned tailoring academy in Amsterdam where many famous names in Dutch fashion trained. In addition to the tailoring masterclass, the winners will also engage in workshops and other training events during their trip, devised to strengthen their skills in creative content, publicity and business.
Judges for this year included Joyce Ababio, Founder and CEO of Joyce Ababio College of designs and Technology, Analyst, author and speaker Abena Brigidi and Sacha Oko, founder of Viva Boutique who unanimously voted for Jeremy’s collection as the winner at the event held on November, 30th, 2018
Vlisco Fashion Facilitation System
The Fashion Fund is just one of the Vlisco initiatives that invests in the African fashion industry. By sharing our knowledge, expertise and network, we can support emerging tailors and fashion designers in launching and strengthening their own fashion labels in West Africa.
As complementary initiatives, Vlisco also offer the Tailor Academy, (link to https://www.vlisco.com/company_news/64-students-graduate-from-vlisco-tailor-academy-in-nigeria/) and Tailor Masterclass (link to https://www.vlisco.com/company_news/32-nigerian-designers-graduate-vlisco-master-class/ ) .
It can only be Vlisco
Vlisco has been designing and manufacturing distinctive fabrics loved by African women since 1846. The specially crafted fabrics – Wax Hollandais, Super-Wax and Java – continue to be made with time-honoured methods and materials in Helmond, the Netherlands. Vlisco has created more than 350,000 original textile designs, many of which have become cultural treasures, bestowed with special names and meanings by Vlisco’s consumers. Vlisco’s highly expressive and creative customers transform the fabrics into fashionable looks, which are one of a kind.
All of the collections and creative content made by the nominees can be viewed at www.vlisco.com/fashionfund