Twenty nine finalists across the 10 categories for the 2024 Twyg Sustainable Fashion Awards have been selected by the Twyg Awards jury. The judges are Omoyemi Akerele, Sharon Armstrong, Mimma Viglezio, Dr Siphi Mbatha, Esethu Cenga and Nisha Kanabar.
Twyg founder Jackie May says: “We congratulate all our deserving finalists. We’d also like to extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsors and partners for their invaluable support – without them, this annual project would not be possible. A heartfelt thank you to Markham, Country Road, H&M South Africa, Polo South Africa, Husqvarna and Royal Flush Gin for their partnerships and commitment to making this initiative a success.”
The annual awards honour and recognise those who are making an impact through their design expertise, technical innovation and business excellence, and the finalists are acknowledged for their contribution. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on 20 November 2024.
In no particular order, the finalists are:
Student Award
The Student Award honours a designer who is currently a student and who defies the traditional and unsustainable fashion systems, using innovative approaches to tackle environmental and social issues.
Emerging Designer Award presented by H&M South Africa
An emerging designer challenging the established norms of the fashion industry will be the recipient of this award. Flipping the script to engage with environmental and social responsibilities, the winner’s bold innovations allow them to stand out from the crowd.
Accessory Award
Crafting accessories from sustainable materials, favouring ethical labour practices and limiting the use of toxic chemicals, the Accessories Award winner is a disruptor making a lasting impact on this sector of the fashion industry.
Footwear Award
Quality, durable footwear made with sustainable materials, employing ethical labour practices, and limiting toxic chemicals: this winner is a brand, cobbler or designer producing ethically-made shoes.
Trans-seasonal Design Award presented by COUNTRY ROAD
Durable designs made to transcend seasons and trends, this award-winner’s product range is versatile, multi-functional, and produced in a slow cycle.
Farm-to-Fashion Award
Transparent and traceable supply chains, regenerative practices, and the use of 100% natural fabrics are behind these designers and brand’s fossil-free materials and processes. Production requires little to no toxins and harmful chemicals.
Nicholas Coutts Artisanal Fashion Award
Focusing on artisanal fashion items that highlight, celebrate and value the prowess of garment workers and local communities, this brand is known for its community impact in honour of the late designer Nicolas Coutts, who incorporated traditional crafts and techniques in his designs.
Retail Award
This category recognises retailers who champion the circular economy through swap shops, selling pre-loved clothing, garment rental and other innovations. They also support sustainable design and manufacturing, and support local producers and supply chains.
Tastemaker Award
Awarded to a photographer, stylist, influencer or content creator using their platform to promote slow sustainable fashion, the winner will have sparked crucial conversations over the past year.
Innovative Design and Materials Award presented by POLO South Africa
This award seeks to recognise a designer of clothes and/or textiles who is pioneering sustainable practices or technologies. For instance, this designer could be using creative pattern-making, introducing new technologies, innovating new business models, applying reconstruction techniques, innovating new materials and techniques, or returning to old, sustainable and cultural practices. The purpose of this category is to highlight and reward those who are pushing boundaries and leading the charge in reimagining what fashion can be.
The Changemaker Award presented by Markham
An overall winner honoured for their high scores in each design category, the recipient of the Changemaker Award recognises a designer embracing sustainable and circular practices in their work. The winner receives a grand prize of R100 000 to further their career.
Now that all the finalists have been announced, the judges will further review the candidates to decide the winners in each category ahead of the awards evening. Among other criteria, the designers, businesses, or brands should have been operating for at least two years, and should have made new garments or collections in the last 12 months and before August 2024.
Winners will be announced at the Twyg Awards event on 20 November 2024 in Cape Town.
- All images supplied
- Feature image: E-mania photo taken at South Africa Fashion Week