The Abryanz Style & Fashion Awards are fashion celebration of style, fashion and art in Africa. The event is organized by the Abryanz Franchise that also includes other brands like the Abryanz Collection stores and the Abryanz Charity Foundation. For three consecutive years, the Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards have set a benchmark for the fashion fraternity in Uganda. The awards have been known for their ability to inspire, set trends and celebrate a Global fashion Agenda.The fashion celebration started in 2013, set out to recognize and honor fashion in Uganda. Through recognizing those individuals that are helping push the industry to the heights it’s reaching, the award franchise also sets out to pave way for new talent, and better opportunities.
In anticipation of this year’s Abryanz Style & Fashion Awards, The awards were launched at the Gold Avenue; Road To the Asfas launch party. The event marked the official announcement for the 2016 nominees in various categories including Fashion designer of the year, Model of the year, MUA of the year and so many others. Below are the nominees for Southern Africa’s Fashion Designer Of The Year.
MaXhosa by Laduma – South africa
MaXhosa is the luxury knitwear brand which exudes chic, bold and beautiful patterns from traditional Xhosa beadwork symbolism and colours. The man responsible for this captivating brand is Laduma Ngxokolo and his wearable art is inspired by his wish to recapture a nostalgic element of Xhosa culture that celebrates traditional aesthetics in a modern and stylish way
kidd hunta – Zimbabwe
Founded in 2015, kidd hunta is a Harare based menswear label which focuses on continuously supplying its consumers with great quality, fresh & unique ready-to-wear garments with fine detailing and overall great designs.
Intisaar Mukadam – ZIMBABWE
Zimbabwean born designer Intisaar Mukadam obtained her BA (honors’) Fashion Design degree in the UK, in 2010. She has become an International name after launching her label, IntisaarM, in Harare, in December 2010. Intisaar’s first collection, “Tribal” was selected- by a judging panel including the renowned British designer, Karen Millen- as one of sixteen degree collections to showcase at Graduate Fashion Week 2010, which was held in London, UK, This collection was entered in the BHM Knitwear Visionary Award competition 2010.
Thula Sundi – South Africa
Fashion designer Thula Sindi is renowned for designing both ready-to-wear and glamour items that reflect the femininity, sophistication and expression of the modern urban woman. Bold yet elegant, his designs stand out from the crowd and are aimed specifically at women who want to do so too.
Gert Johan Coetzee – South Africa
Gert-Johan Coetzee was born in Koster in South Africa’s North-West province in 1987. Fashion was in his blood since his earliest days; he was making dresses as early as eight years old. At 16 he left high school to enrol in the Northwest School of Design in Klerksdorp, North-West, to focus his attention on the business of fashion.
Chisoma Lombe – Zambia
Many would look at her now and see all the beautiful fashion designs and outfits worn by many people, but she did not start out designing fashion clothes she was actually an accountant working as finance director at Action Aid International Zambia and even before starting to design clothes she first started designing furniture and slippers.
TAIBO BACAR – Mozambique

Noticias (File photo) / Taibo Bacar
AIBO BACAR is a brand known for it’s fusion of high fashion and ready to wear, created in 2008 by the designer Taibo Bacar.
Today TAIBO BACAR is considered one of the leading brands in Africa. It is determined, delicate and classic. It’s an instantaneous burst of wholesome energy for all women who identify themselves with eclectic style where the silhouette plays a central role. A brand that emphasizes the feminine body using only selected cutting techniques and the highest grade of materials, making every TAIBO BACAR woman a unique being that is envied, respected and adored.