Vlisco has announced Mina Korewaah Frempong from Ghana as the winner of the Vlisco Fashion Fund 2019.

The Vlisco Fashion Fund is a contest that launches emerging African fashion designers and their businesses based in Ghana, DRC Congo, Benin, Togo, Ivory Coast and Nigeria, on a global scale along with African fashion designers living elsewhere in – or outside of – Africa entered to compete in the Global contestant category.

In 2019, one winner was selected from each of this year’s 6 participating countries, and one winner from the Global category.

The seven winners will each receive funding equivalent to €5,000, plus a two-week master class abroad.

How the winner was selected

More than 700 applications were submitted to the Vlisco Fashion Fund 2019. The VFF team meticulously reviewed the eligible applications, and then the jury panels conducted interviews in each country.

Based on the interviews, three nominees per country progressed to the next round. The remaining 21 nominees were given Vlisco fabrics and a budget.

The challenge: Create a collection of five outfits, a photoshoot, and a one-month deadline. During the last week in November, the juries reviewed the final collections and selected the seven country winners.

Mina truly impressed the jury with her work, and has been selected as the winner in Ghana. Mina Korewaah Frempong (30) is a fashion student from Radford University College. Her label is called Korewaah. She has a completely unique perspective and approach to design with innovative sculptural cuts. Mina really pushes the boundaries of fashion and art, and pays keen attention to details.

Every accessory that was used for the show was handmade by her.

Ghanaian runners-up were David Kusi Boye-Doe and Daniel Opoku.



At a festive awards ceremony, the finalists and winners celebrated and also
presented their creations.

For an overview of the collections and creative content made this year visit: https://www.vlisco.com/fashion_fund/vlisco-fashion-fund-2019-nominees/.

Funding and Masterclass

A condition of the VFF prize funding is that it gets invested back into the winners’ businesses. It might be used to set-up a studio or purchase new equipment, for example. Winners are also invited to attend a masterclass in tailoring at prestigious academy, abroad. In addition, winners engage in workshops and other training events as part of the prize-package, to strengthen their skills in creative content, publicity and business.

Vlisco Fashion Facilitation System

The Fashion Fund is just one of the Vlisco initiatives that invests in the African fashion industry. By sharing our knowledge, expertise and network, we can support emerging tailors and fashion designers in launching and strengthening their own fashion labels in West Africa.

As complementary initiatives, we also offer the Tailor Academy, (link to https://www.vlisco.com/company_news/64-students-graduate-from-vlisco-tailor- academy-in-nigeria/) and Tailor Masterclass (link to https://www.vlisco.com/company_news/32-nigerian-designers-graduate-vlisco-
master-class/).