The AMIRI Prize is an inclusive annual award and incubator established to encourage, nurture and showcase up-and-coming talent from fashion and fashion-adjacent fields that otherwise might not have their voices heard.
The AMIRI Prize 2023 Winner
Lukhanyo Mdingi
Lukhanyo Mdingi
Cape Town, South Africa
Lukhanyo Mdingi’s eponymous label is an ever-evolving emergence of consideration, community and timeless design. Established in Cape Town, South Africa in 2015, the label exists as a space that moves deeply into the very essence of human ingenuity and the preservation of craftsmanship. Fundamental to the cosmology of Lukhanyo Mdingi, is the exploration of fashion as its current lexicon through which they harness the spirit of being human. In this way, the label re-imagines and reinstates dignity and notoriety in their garment production with a small team based in Cape Town, while continually collaborating with artisans on the continent such as the expert weavers from PHILANI in Khayelitsha, Cape Town to textile artisans at CABES GIE in Burkina Faso.
Lukhanyo’s approach to design is a practice that is centered around these relationships; it is from these symbiotic connections that Lukhanyo Mdingi conceptualizes collections, believing that beginning with human beings is where the essence is held for creating meaningful & intelligent design. In working with the notion of lineage-building; this is particularly noted in their partnership with the Ethical Fashion Initiative, as well as being the recipient of the LVMH Karl Lagerfeld Prize in 2021, leading on becoming a finalist of the ANDAM Prize 2022.
These on-going relationships continue to nurture the label’s longevity, balancing both the creative and entrepreneurial spirit for which Lukhanyo Mdingi is known. Having debuted at SA Menswear Week in the year of their inception, 2015, the label has presented at New York Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week to acclaimed reception. This eternal reverence for the hands that make is central to Lukhanyo Mdingi’s vision, and the label is a testimony and dialogue occurring on African soil as an intention to emanate outward across the planet.
This second edition of the AMIRI prize is now also open to international applicants.
From three finalists, a winner will be selected by an inspiring panel of experts from the fashion, music and entertainment industries. The prize includes 100,000 USD and a personal mentorship with Founder and Creative Director Mike Amiri. The spirit of the yearlong program is one of transparency, generosity and guidance within an often hard-to-access industry.
Discover
Mentor
Empower
Joining Mike Amiri on the panel are 9 accomplished and inspiring visionaries and entrepreneurs:
Colm Dillane
Founder and Creative
Director of KidSuper
“It's amazing to get mentorship from a brand we watched grow in front of our eyes - we saw Mike Amiri take a brand from nowhere to the top of the fashion world. This is probably the best mentorship you can get from a young brand.”
Gabriella Karefa-Johnson
Editor & Stylist
“I want to help build a new system designed to support and benefit the people who historically don't have access to the highest rungs of fashion-- for me, it's time to rethink what fashion looks like by expanding the pool of talent we platform. The Amiri Prize is part of that.”
June Ambrose
Designer and
Creative Director
“As someone who has had a beautiful, non-traditional career path, It means alot to me to support young creatives who are finding their own. The fashion industry is difficult and expensive to break into so I'm hoping this opportunity will give someone the chance to have a beautiful career in this space.”
Law Roach
Image Architect
“I think Mike is doing something so special putting young talent in positions to possibly change their lives.”
Lucia Liu
Stylist/Founder of
theBallroom
“It's a wonderful and unique initiative to honor and award those who come from unconventional paths. Often, this is where we find absolute newness and innovation in design and brand building.”
Rocco Liu
Editorial Director, GQ China
“I look forward to discovering more talented young designers with unique talent and potential through the AMIRI Prize this year.”
Salehe Bembury
Designer
“Often the only things standing between a creative and their destination is opportunity, education, and resources. The effort that the Amiri prize is making to alleviate this is an initiative that I am proud to contribute to.”
Samuel Ross
Founder and Creative
Director of SR_A SR_A Ltd.
and A-COLD-WALL*
“Independent funding from established designers and creators to the next generation of talent, and current undiscovered talents within fashion is a crucial responsibility. Mike's AMIRI Prize is a testament to that: providing a platform that offers both creative and business guidance. The best way to learn is from those who have taken a similar journey.”
Will Welch
Global Editor Director, GQ
“I'm honored to join Mike in his mission to foster a more nurturing and inclusive environment for the next generation of up-and-coming fashion talent. Mike forged his own path to success as an American fashion designer, and it's inspiring and hopeful to see him give new opportunities, mentorship, and resources to young designers.”
The AMIRI Prize Winner 2021
Lou Badger
Founder and Creative Director of Lou Badger
The 2021 winner of The Amiri Prize was US Designer Lou Badger, whose work stood out for its creative execution and clear purpose in addressing the lack of representation in sustainable fashion. A one-time Philadelphia-based teacher, Lou is a self-taught designer whose imagination addresses challenges around overconsumption. Now based in Mexico City, they work with local artisans to bring their designs to life through a slow-fashion approach. To support younger generations, they recruit former students as collaborators and are focused on bringing opportunities to young black queer creatives.
How has the experience been since you won the prize?
It has been illuminating, and there has been an abundance of learning. The Amiri Prize is an excellent opportunity for designers from nontraditional backgrounds to elevate their work, have the resources to invest more deeply in their craft, as well as have access to the wonderful people at the brand to cultivate more intention and focus. Since the day I won the prize until now, I've had the opportunity to develop my creative ideas with more ease and greater intention. My journey has allowed me to cultivate technical expertise and understand the fashion industry at a higher level.
What are you currently working on?
My current projects are custom designs for individuals and solidifying a structure for my brand offerings that are financially sustainable and focused on full looks.
Is there anything you would like to say for future hopeful applicants?
Apply! For me, the application process was an incredible chance to reflect on my past and current work. Ensure your application is organized and visually engaging, this goes a long way.
Eligibility & FAQs
ELIGIBILITY
Candidates need not have traditional fashion education; however, their brand should be established, as we are looking for a clear point of view and viable ideas. All categories encompassing fashion design, are considered.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
In addition to completing the application form, candidates must provide the following:
- A mission statement, a paragraph at least, which outlines their mission statement and intention.
- Documentation of their creative process, from inspiration to execution, in the form of mood boards and technical elements.
- Imagery of final designs, photographed on a model, if possible.
Applications close July 28th, 2023
Due to the high volume of applications, the finalists and winner will be announced at a later date. The finalists will be contacted via email with next steps.
FAQs
A: To be eligible for the AMIRI Prize you must:
- Have an established brand and presence.
- There is no age limit to the designer applying
- Submit your application by July 28, 2023
Q: I started my brand just over a year ago, and I don't have any employees. Does that affect my application?
A: No. We are adjudicating entries based on the overall application and vision of each up-and-coming brand. Please complete the application with as much detail as possible. You can enter '0' or 'Not Applicable' if some questions do not warrant a response from your brand.
Q: I started my brand just over a year ago, and I don't have any retail partners. Does that affect my application?
A: No. We are adjudicating entries based on the overall application and vision of each up-and-coming brand. Please complete the application with as much detail as possible. You can enter '0' or 'Not Applicable' if some questions do not warrant a response from your brand.
Q: How will you be judging the applications?
A: We're calling all passionate creatives with a unique brand identity, those who stand out and convey a sense of personality, individualism, and purpose. Applications will be adjudicated by our panel of prestigious visionaries and entrepreneurs. The three finalists will be chosen by our panel for final prize winner selection.
Q: When will I know if I am a finalist?
A: If you are a finalist, you will be contacted by a member of the AMIRI team by end of July 2023. If you do not hear from us by this date, your application was not selected as a finalist.
Q: How can I be sure you received my application?
A: Once you submit your application, you will receive a confirmation email that it has been received. Check your junk mail folder if you can't find it in your inbox. If you did not receive a confirmation, please contact us at amiriprize@amiri.com
Q: Will there be a runner-up prize?
A: We're awarding one winner only for the 2023 AMIRI Prize.
Q: I tried to submit my application numerous times on different browsers, but I keep receiving the same message, “Form Submission Failed, Please Try Again Later.” What do I do?
A: We recommend you look through the application form and make sure you are filling all the required fields with asterisks before submitting. If required fields are not filled, you will receive an error message. Also, please note that total of all file uploads shouldn’t be greater than 100mb per submission.
Q: I submitted my application, but I still haven't received the confirmation email. How can I make sure you received my application?
A: Please allow 1-2 business days to receive the confirmation email. We also recommend that you check your spam and junk folders. If more than 1-2 days have passed, please contact our support team at amiriprize@amiri.com