Meet Kenneth Ize And Thebe Magugu The Two African Designers Unveiled As 2019 LVMH Prize Finalists

The week, the 8 Finalists for the LVMH prize were announced in Paris. In terms of gender, race, and geography they represent the most diverse selection of finalists since the prize’s inception. This year, most of the contestants are putting sustainability at the forefront of their brands and priding themselves on environmental consciousness and implementing ethical changes in fashion.

Nigeria’s Kenneth Ize and South Africa’s Thebe Magugu were among the 8 finalists. 

Kenneth Izedonmwen, Kenneth Ize

Nigerian designer Kenneth Ize founded his namesake brand in 2013. Ize brings together a variety of textiles and cross-cultural experiences to create a unique idea of what luxury can be. Through older construction methods like weaving and looming, he is able to execute sustainable practices in his designs.

View this post on Instagram

KENNETH IZE in @another_man online 🖤🖤🖤 @kkobi___ @johnpaulpietrus @hynamjoseph @em_bang

A post shared by Kenneth Ize (@kennethize) on Jul 12, 2018 at 10:54am PDT

Thebe Magugu

Since 2015, South African designer Thebe Magugu has been creating an eponymous brand that looks to novelty and culture to enhance the way that women dress. The brand’s designs function at the intersection of modernity and the rich history and multi-faceted continent of Africa.

View this post on Instagram

Figures of Fortitude (2018) For the past two collections – Gender Studies SS18 and Home Economics AW18 – we explored the condition of the female force in South Africa. We are constantly surrounded by women, and on a personal level, the trait I have always found most admirable is their powerful ability to possess both Strength and Vulnerability; traits I feel blessed to be exposed to with the matriarchal figures who raised me and traits which are monumental in anyone hoping contribute positively to the bigger human condition. For this lookbook, shot on sculpted scarecrows [a symbol of Strength and Vulnerability], the two collections come together to form a personal short story: an ode to women. In some of the images, you will see a raging fire taking place; a crop burning we found quite poetic. Some dresses are pretty, some are challenging. Some coats are functional, some are torn in half. I also wanted to create a dialogue about how beauty operates on a very subjective spectrum, which doesn’t have a wrong or right side. Gender Studies SS18 Woman In Thinking Blouse + Split Sean Culottes Image on the shirt is our muse @ref1loe The Gender Studies collection is available for pre-order on info@thebemagugu.com. Imagery: Photographer: @aartverrips_official Creative Director: @thebetsilem Key Assistant: @nhlanhlamasemola #fashion #photography

A post shared by Thebe Magugu (@thebemagugu) on May 25, 2018 at 2:11am PDT

Since 2013, the LVMH prize has elevated young designers from around the world and provided them with the essentials and tools needed to run a successful fashion business. The winner will receive 300,000 euros in grant money and be paired with a fashion mentor who will help them to establish the fundamental aspects of their brand. The LVMH prize winner will be announced in June. This will be the first jury that doesn’t include the late Karl Lagerfeld.

satisfashionug@gmail.com