Midlands Fashion Awards 2016 have announced a record number of entrants to this year’s Awards with entrants coming from as far afield as Italy, New York, Poland, India and more close to home from Birmingham, Worcestershire, Leicestershire and more around the region.
Whittled down from hundreds of hopefuls, the finalists have been announced and will be taking to the stage at the glittering catwalk event, which is to be held at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, CBSO Centre, Friday 7th October 2016.
Encompassing the very best creative talent in the region with categories being hotly contested including Independent Designer of the Year, Emerging Designer of the Year and Make-Up Artist of the Year amongst others.
This year’s entries come from a wealth of aspiring local designers, as well as from across the globe making this a truly international affair and is testament to the stature of the Awards, which was created by Jenny Eason and has become a permanent fashion fixture.
The Awards offer an unrivalled platform for current and emergingcreatives to showcase their talents, both to consumers, as well as, crucially, buyers and industry big-wigs from the fashion industry who use the event to scout for the most exciting design talent of the future. Previous winners have been approached by high end retail buyers while others have gone on to set up their own fashion brand or have gone on to showcase at national and international fashion weeks across the world.
“We’ve seen so many previous winners go on to develop their own careers, and we’re proud to have been a starting point for them. We’re giving creatives a chance to excel in their field as well as on their home turf”.
She continues; “Often the pressure for designers and creatives to move to London is overwhelming and seems inevitable, but there is so many potential opportunities right here in the Midlands and an event like this proves that there is a melting pot of talented individuals just waiting for their chance to shine. That’s what we’re aiming for with this event,” says Jenny Eason, Founder of Midlands Fashion Awards.
What started out as a one-off fashion show has developed into the biggest and best celebration of the Midlands’ fashion design creatives which has helped to raise the national and international profile of fashion and creative talent in the region. Not only does it serve as a ceremony to recognise these talents, it also provides a rich hubbub of creative networking with an added splash of entertainment in the form of live performances, with the Voice 2015 finalist Sasha Simone performing at this year’s event.
Finalists will be judged by a panel of industry professionals including Jenny Eason, Founder/Director of the Midlands Fashion Awards and Debra Hepburn, Managing Director at Rees, Bradbury, Hepburn (RBH) and a co-founder of Young British Designers are amongst this year’s official panellists. Those crowned as the winner in their category will not only be exposed to vital coverage and press columns, but will be eligible for free membership with the Fashion Central Network, with a listing In their Creative Directory, a photoshoot featuring selected pieces from the designer’s collection or body of work, as well as a congratulatory trophy.