With 77 designers, over 50 models and in excess of 50,000 attendees, including international press and buyers, ARISE Magazine Fashion Week 2012 (AMFW) concluded its second annual fashion week in spectacular style on Sunday night (March 11 2012), on the grounds of the 5-Star Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, Nigeria.
A standing ovation greeted the British designer Ozwald Boateng as he brought the Fashion Week to its close with his signature presentation of bespoke suits.
After completing a marathon of back-to-back catwalk shows, AMFW's finale included the much-anticipated ARISE Magazine Fashion Week Awards 2012. Supermodel Alek Wek presented 13 of the 77 participating designers with Lalique and Moët & Chandon awards.
The winners:
Models of Year Dudley O’Shaughnessy (Male) and Georgie Baddiel (Female)
Style Icon of the Year Oluchi Onweagba
Menswear Designer of the Year PETROU/Man (US/Europe)
Womenswear Designer of the Year Tsemaye Binitie (UK/Nigeria)
Fashion Brand of the Year Temple Muse
Innovative Designer David David (UK) and Odio Mimonet (Nigeria)
Emerging Designer of the Year Loza Maléombho (US/Côte d’lvoire)
Young Designer of the Year Laquan Smith (US)
Major honours went to Ozwald Boateng (UK) for the Lifetime Achievement Award, whilst South African duo KLûK CGDT and Nigerian designer Maki Oh were joint winners in the Designer of The Year Award category.
FIVE designers will showcase for ARISE during its annual gala extravaganza this September at the Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week 2012: Ozwald Boateng, Gavin Rajah, Maki Oh, Tiffany Amber and Tsemaye Binitie.
In addition, ARISE also announced the five models - Alvin, Sebastian, Oluwatoyin, Anthony (female) and Amade - who will also be joining the designers in New York.
“We already have London, New York, Paris and Milan fashion weeks, our AMFW event in Lagos completes the international global fashion week season”, says the event´s organiser.
Chairman/Editor-In-Chief of THISDAY newspaper and founder of ARISE Magazine Nduka Obaigbena concludes, "The time is right for Lagos to become the fifth destination for fashion week."