The Midland's Fashion Awards is a show put on for rising stars across the midlands who struggle to find recognition within the fashion and beauty industry.
The awards is put on for a wide range of designers across the region by the founder and managing director, Jennifer Eason who wishes to showcase all of the designers to her panel as positive figures in the industry and to get them some sort of recognition which they would never of had before.
The panel on the 10th anniversary of the awards on 22nd October 2017 consisted of Debra Hepburn, Founder & Managing Director of Young British Designers, Andrew Riley, Editor in Chief at Style Birmingham Magazine, Matt Roden, Head Tailor at Clements & Church and MFA2016 winner Helen Howe, Helen Howe Atelier.
The awards have been running for 10 years now and has a vast array of categories which contestants can be nominated by leading figures for winning including young designers, emerging designers, independent designer, accessory designer, make-up artist of the year, rising-star makeup artist, rising-star fashion stylist, hairstylist and photographer of the year. These categories have developed over the years as in 2015, there were only 5 categories so they have opened up this to a wider range of artists and stylists. They have 3 contestants in each category which all get recognition from the show and also there are others which come along to be runners up in the hoping of making it to the finals and also to show support in addition to connecting with other designers before and throughout the duration of the show.
When attending the awards last year in October, there was a massive amount of talent which couldn't go unmentioned, but it was hard to tell whether or not the awards alone would help strengthen the designers success.
Previous winners such as Harriet Eccleston, Sophia Pittom, Helen Howe Atelier, Maurice Whittingham Couture, Michael Wallace and Victoria Bramwell have gone on to have amazing success including being approached by high end fashion retailers and working on major fashion week events in Los Angeles, Hollywood and Miami. Other contestants who did not win the awards such as Reece Curtis-Walwyn and Bottle Blonde have also have material published in British Vogue and worked with leading celebrities in the fashion industry such as Paloma Faith and artists off talent shows.
Jennifer Eason the founder of the awards, says: "the awards are set out for rising designers as I found there was a gap in the market and on the fashion scene to showcase different designers and to show their ideas and influences styles by themselves. Last year we had an amazing variety of finalists.
“This is a great way for people across the midlands to come together and create something spectacular that will enable everyone to connect and network with one another. Different designers from completely different categories often find they will collaborate and network in the future and the awards allow this to happen in the first instance."
However with speaking to some of the contestants from the awards, their successes seemed somewhat off their own back and in terms of the show, they did not get the recognition that they think they deserved finding themselves achieving things from their own success rather than from the awards.
For example, Kate Reynolds who came 3rd place in professional makeup artist category didn’t feel the awards in particular continued her progression into her career as she said:
“I don’t feel like placing in the competition got me any more recognition than just promoting myself. I have definitely gained more attention and a lot more work since then but don’t feel like there was a direct correlation from placing 3rd to the work that came afterwards (If that makes sense).
“I am glad that I took part in the competition, however for me, I just don’t think it was organised enough prior to the actual day. I received a lot of emails that contradicted one another with unclear information and instructions. I think it has potential to improve year by year and wouldn’t rule it out for other artists but I think the poor organisation did affect the competitors. I can’t speak on behalf of any of the designers/stylists etc as their competition was separate to ours.
“I think that last year was the first year where they had separate categories for rising star makeup artist and professional makeup artist so maybe this year it may be more prepared! I didn’t lose anything from entering and competing so I think I’d recommend it to other artists even if it’s for the experience as it gives you a taste of what it’s like working under pressure in industry.
"I’ve done quite a few fashion shoots and things like that to further my success and I’ve actually been doing master classes in Walsall college for media makeup students along with continuing my freelance makeup journey for weddings and special occasions which I set up myself.”
Another designer from Kashane Swaby’s team called Deleisha Forsythe following from the Midlands Fashion Awards said: “everything that I have achieved since the show has been on my own merit and as a result of my team's hard work and dedication.”
Both of these views seem negative towards the awards in the sense that their own success has came from themselves and themselves only. Both designers have achieved a lot since the awards but that doesn't necessarily mean the awards have achieved this for them.
Independent fashion designer winner Dionne Reeves who comes from Birmingham has carried on producing her own content and designs since the awards as he produced these before the awards came about.
Dionne says: "I love creating my own designs. It gives me a real sense of satisfaction when I look at something I have actually made.
"The awards haven't necessarily given me what I expected to come from them in terms of success, however I have definitely received more recognition and my designs are being appreciated which is always a bonus. My Twitter and Facebook following has increased a lot but I think that comes down to me constantly pestering people in the street to check me out I'm not too sure!"
Some more of Dionnes designs can be found on her personal fashion blog and visual blog at:
It seems the Midland's Fashion Awards enable you to network well with other upcoming designers who also have a similar dream. The event allows designers to showcase their work and to gain more contacts in the sense of a better following and support system.
From speaking to some of the finalists, the event could be improved as they didn't completely get all they were expecting out of it in terms of new opportunities , however it has strengthened their base of work which they had already set up prior to the event.
If you are interested in signing up for the awards and to get further information, visit their Twitter page:
