On Saturday 29th October Fashion Designers & Craft Makers Network held their fourth consecutive Young Designer Awards and Gala Showcase. The award was aimed at discovering this year’s innovative, creative ‘FDCN young designers’ of the future. Families, friends, fashion lovers and the press alike gathered together at the Park Crescent Conference Centre for what was an impressive and exciting award ceremony. They were also joined by a panel special guest Judges from the media and fashion world, who included; Errol John from Barnardo’s, (sponsor of the FDCN Designer of the Year Award) Christie Dinham of Tyler Media, Grace Kelly of Afro Hair & Beauty, Akosua Annobil of New Nation Newspaper, Jennifer Williams-Baffoe of Ethnic Minority Enterprise Project. The Judges present had the difficult task of selecting this year’s FDCN Young Designer of the Year which was open to candidates aged 9-20 years and FDCN Avant-Garde Designer of the Year Open to the 21-25 year age group.

A special Tyler Media/Children Are the Future Youth Award 2005 was presented by Christie Dinham who is also one of the organisers of the Caribbean Fashion Week in Jamaica. This year Jermaine Wilson is the very talented designer who has won an all expenses paid trip to début his collection in New York Fashion Week, following in the footsteps of Kelly-Jade Nicholls 2004 winner who showcased in Caribbean Fashion week last June. “I truly believe that we have to encourage our young designers as much as we can; after all they are our future industry shakers and makers." Says Christie Dinham

This award was founded Knitwear Designer Joanna Marcella, ” This year was a special year with the advent of Africa 05 and various cultural based initiatives, our designers where given the theme of ‘my roots and heritage’ as part of their brief, they rose to the challenge and produced the most flamboyant garments”, Says Joanna.

This year’s awards has moved to the next level in its search for multi-cultural design excellence, there were several outstanding winners with Barnardo’s 2005 Designer of the year award being presented to 20 year old Adebisi Adeyemi All of this years winner’s have been awarded an opportunity to participate on a year long UK tour and showcase, which is a new exposure and awareness initiative, launched in line with our vision, which is to see the day when the names of African/Caribbean and Asian designers names roll of the tongues of the average consumer as easily as we say, John Galliano, Stella McCartney or Alexander McQueen.

The evening was a great success filled with live entertainment, fashion shows from up and coming top fashion designers and a glamorous black model search which saw up to 400 people come down to support our young people of the community, as well as raising funds towards our chosen charity Barnardo’s.

For further information on YDA please contact:
Joanna Marcella (Award Founder)
T: 07940 647 102
E: youngdesignerawards@hotmail.com
W: www.blackfashiondesignersnetwork.com/yda.html

FDCN YDA Winner 14-19 Year Old Category was Davinia de Cordova

FDCN YDA Winner 20 Year Old Category was Adebisi Adeyemi

Barnardo’s Young designer of the year was Adebisi Adeyemi

FDCN Avant Garde Winner was Nazia Parveen

Tyler Media/Children Are the Future Youth Award 2005 Jermaine Wilson.

Fashion Designers’ & Craft Makers’ Network is busy preparing next years Award Show and also putting the final touches to the Young Designers Award workshops and Model Search Workshops. We are now registering young designers who want to take part in next year awards to register email: youngdesignerawards@hotmail.com or call 020 8986 8411.