During the 30th IAF World Fashion Convention in Colombia, Medellín, Colombian designer Andrea Landa was announced the winner of the IAF Designer Award, for her collection ‘Tribal Queens’. Head of the Jury, Leslie Holden, who is the Head of Faculty of the Departments of Design and Management at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute, praised Landa for her creative concept. It was well styled and she showed a good combination of craftsmanship and fabrication. ‘Tribal Queens’, according to Andrea Landa, is a tribute to the feminine strength and the elegance of women’s nature, support with homage to the amazing Colombian craftsmen tradition.

For the first time, the IAF Designer Award was not announced during a traditional catwalk show of the nominees. Instead, the nominees’ best pieces were displayed on mannequins in one of Medellín’s prime shopping centres, El Tesoro. This choice highlights the connections between all of the fashion industry’s components, including retail and design. Last year’s winner Marga Weimans from the Netherlands also displayed her latest Spring collection. Even Andrea Landa will be invited to attend next year’s convention and present her collection.

For many years now the IAF International Designer Awards have been one of the highlights of the annual IAF World Apparel Conventions. It offers designers from all over the world a platform, which recognises and rewards the next generation of future designers.

Iafnet.eu