Africa Fashion International kicks off the 2025 Fastrack Young Designer of the Year search, aiming to elevate emerging fashion talent across the continent and promote African creativity globally.
Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe’s Africa Fashion International (AFI) has officially launched the search for the 2025 Fastrack Young Designer of the Year, a program that aims to unearth and elevate emerging fashion talent across the continent. The announcement was made as AFI continues to strengthen its mission of promoting African creativity and luxury brands on the global stage.
Entrants for the prestigious award opened on Monday, April 14, and will remain so until May 5. Aspiring designers aged between 18 and 35, who are of African nationality or reside on the continent, are eligible to apply. “At AFI, we are committed to developing and elevating Africa’s creativity and talents on global platforms. Fastrack remains central to AFI’s mission of growing luxury brands from Africa,” Moloi-Motsepe stated.
The Fastrack prize has a storied history of recognizing and nurturing young talents. Previous winners include notable fashion designers such as Thebe Magugu, Rich Mnisi, and Shamyra Moodley. Last year’s recipient, Loice Dube, of Lo’Ice, earned accolades with her unique garments, further establishing the significance of the award in enhancing designers’ careers.
Moloi-Motsepe highlighted the value of the Fastrack program, describing it as a “golden opportunity for rising designers to gain valuable industry knowledge, mentorship, and an opportunity to work in a structured and supportive environment.” The winner will not only take home the award but will also be acknowledged as part of a network that includes some of Africa’s most successful fashion innovators.
In addition to the Fastrack prize, AFI’s commitment to cultivating the fashion industry is evident in its role as the official fashion sponsor for Miss South Africa 2024, as well as its involvement in significant events like the recent Cape Town Fashion Week and the Joburg Fashion Week. Over the past 17 years, AFI has hosted various fashion experiences across unique locations, further solidifying its presence in the African luxury fashion landscape.
Thebe Magugu, one of the award’s earlier winners in 2015, is a prime example of how the Fastrack program can impact a designer’s career. Recently, Magugu received high praise from renowned model Naomi Campbell in an interview with British publication i-D Magazine, where she described him as “transcending fashion entirely.” Campbell noted, “His new space in Johannesburg is revolutionary — part store, part cultural hub, spotlighting other creatives through exhibitions and panels.”
Highlighting his versatility, Magugu has also ventured into DJing and hosted an intimate party featuring performances from notable artists like Grammy-winner Zakes Bantwini. This growing recognition among industry leaders underscores the significance of the AFI’s Fastrack programme in shaping the future of Africa’s vibrant fashion industry.
As AFI continues to champion emerging designers, anticipation builds for the next generation of creative talents who will contribute to the evolution of African fashion on a global scale.
Source: Noah Wire Services
