The Midlands Fashion awards and MFA Showcase are a staple for emerging designers in Birmingham, the Midlands and the United Kingdom. This year’s awards show is scheduled for October 24 at the city of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Centre.
As the event is fast approaching, we thought we would take a look at the nominees for this year’s event. The event focuses on highlighting national, emerging and independent designers. For more fashion events check out our fashion event listings page.
National designers nominated for the show include Natalie King, Sokele, Jamilia Designs, Opulance, Little Hill People, Yana Ngobam and Anna Sanders.
There are also accessory designers, youth designers, stylists and make-up artists competing. There will be plenty of fashion at the event, but for now we will focus on two categories that are sure to make a splash—emerging designers and independent designers.
Emerging Talent
Emerging Designers are always a treat at the Midland Fashion awards. There are six nominees in this category with designs that range from knit wear, to designer glassed, to swim wear.
- Falcieri Designs- Founder Olivia Oliver said her designs are focused on avant-garde stylings and impeccable tailoring. With six years of experience, she is a real contender.
- Michael Wallace-Michael Wallace is an Independent fashion designer based in Nottingham, who makes men’s and women’s wear with a focus on Gothic elements. His favourite colour to use in designs is black.
- YM By Yakshi Malhotra- Yakshi is a designer based in Nottingham. She has a degree in fashion knit wear and textiles, which is her main focus as a designer.
- Matthew Guide- A design company based in Staffordshire that focuses on a re-imagination of French couture.
- Anna Sanders- Sanders focuses on ready-to-wear designs using luxury fabrics including swim wear, dance wear and day wear.
- Alexandra Trickett- A graduate from Birmingham City University, Trickett aims to create “imaginative and eye-catching garments” and is not one to play it safe. Her designs go great with designer sunglasses, like Alexander McQueen sunglasses.
The Independent Set
The independent designers who are showing this year are offering designs that range from avant- garde and contemporary women’s wear to bridal designs.
- Rhona Anne- Anne has a BA degree from Kingston University and says she strives to create contemporary designs that are flattering to the female body.
- Opulance- Creator Beverly White graduated from Nottingham Trent University. She has made everything from bridal wear to sportswear, but her line focuses on “structure, elegance and beauty”
- FashionSistas- Fashion Designer and Stylist Rose Perkins has a FashionSistas boutique located in Digbeth in Birmingham. She is now looking to branch out and show her designs nationally. She specialises in one-off or recycled and reused garments.
- Why So Serious- Started in 2013, Why So Serious is a Luxury Fashion label that is the brainchild of Terri-Leigh Finnegan. With years of experience in the industry, Finnegan hopes to spice things up in the fashion world with unique avant-garde designs.
- Victoria Bramwell- A graduate from Birmingham City University, Bramwell likes to use high quality fabrics and play with pops of colour in her designs.
- HK By Harinder Kaur- Kaur is the only bridal designer on the list. She specialises in developing one-of-a kind pieces for her clients.
- Get Ready for Fashion
The event is coming up soon, so grab your tickets so you can be sitting next to the runway wearing your best clobber, wondering at the talent. This event is sure to feature some of the up-and-coming fashion designers you will want to watch in the coming years.