An African design contest to rebrand the African Fashion and Textile scene is a result of collaboration between Cotton made in Africa (CmiA), Inter Region Economic Network and African Fashion trend agency FA254.

For the first time, the contest establishes a direct link between CmiA cotton farmers who produce the sustainable raw material for the designs, African designers and the international Fashion scene, said Tina Stridde, managing director of Cotton made in Africa in Hamburg. They are looking forward to support and accompany the contest as it will put a spotlight on African Fashion as well as African Textile Production.

Young African designers are invited to submit portfolios to FA254 which will be judged by an international jury chaired by Vogue Germany chief editor Christiane Arp. The winner of the contest, for which submissions close on August 20, will have the possibility to present the collection during the Berlin Fashion Week 2015 and get to produce their product with international fashion companies.

CmiA is strongly encouraging young African designers to submit a portfolio of their work to FA254 to have the chance to take their work to the next level.

Ten young African designers will be chosen from submitted portfolios under various categories including Apparel, Accessories and Home Decoration. After a three months training program (October – December 2014) the nominees will be required to offer improved designs. An international jury chaired by Vogue’s Christiane Arp will then select the best design in each category in January 2015.

The Inter Region Economic Network (IREN) is an independent and non-partisan think tank which promotes policies geared towards the creation of a free Africa.

FA254 was founded in 2013 by Waridi Schrobsdorff, a former Kenyan top model to discover and promote new talents in order to rebrand Africa through young and creative minds. Their goal is to change people's minds as they have many talented young people who deserve the recognition.

IREN and CmiA are happy to collaborate with FA254 to support the enormous fashion design talents in Africa and thereby aim to strengthen the Eastern African domestic textile market.