The end of the November edition of Serbia Fashion Week was marked with the official Serbia Fashion Awards in the Embassy of the Republic of Italy, in Belgrade. The evening began with a speech from Serbia Fashion Week president, Svetlana Horvat, who took the opportunity to thank all guests for the support they have shown during the manifestation, and the host of the evening, His Excellency Giuseppe Manzo, Italian Ambassador to Serbia, wished everyone welcome and that as a representative of a nation that is a global leader in the fashion industry, it is his great pleasure to open up his doors to the Serbia Fashion Awards.
The event was hosted by the popular Serbian actress Mirka Vasiljević and talk show host Marina Buljovčić, and all the designers that presented their collections during this fashion week were present, along with several notables, such as the First Lady of Serbia, Tamara Vučić, Cile Marinković, Vesna Dedić, Jelena Bačić Alimpić, Snežana Dakić and many others. The guests had a chance to taste a bit of the Serbia Fashion Week spirit with a mini-runway consisting of some of the outfits that were presented at the Congress Center „Master Centre“ of Novi Sad Fair.
The international jury was made up of some of the biggest names in global fashion, such as Donald Potard, former CEO of Jean Paul Gaultier, Patrizia Gucci, as well as honorary jury members: designer Eymeric Francois, a member of the Syndical chamber of Haute-Couture in Paris, Branko Popović, CEO of Fashion Clash festival in Maastricht, Svetlana Horvat, president of the National Chamber of Fashion in Serbia and Serbia Fashion Week, William Arlotti, CEO of Parisian media agency House Off, and Caroline Paris, fashion blogger and stylist. They announced Serbia Fashion Award winners in several categories.
The president of the jury, Donald Potard, gave an excellent speech, praising each designer. The Best Young Designer award, which grants the winner an opportunity to participate in the prestige avant-guarde fashion show Fashion Clash in the Netherlands, went to Iva Kujundžić, and was awarded by Branko Popović, CEO of Fashion Clash himself.
Serbia Fashion Week is also the organization behind one of the biggest European competitions for young talents – European Fashion Talent Designers Competiton. The award for Best Young European Designer was presented by Rocco Gaglioti, who won an Emmy award for his fashion show „Fashion News Live“, and awarded to Igor Lukić.
The president of the Mad Mood Milan platform, Marianna Micelli, presented an award which grants participation at the upcoming Mad Mood Milan to Nataša Župac. Milica Tričković, the Serbian designer who won first place at the Fil Rouge competition for best collection, received this prestigious award from Jana Farafanova, co-host of this platform. The Italian ambassador, His Excellence Giuseppe Manzo, awarded Istituto Cordella with an award for successfully presenting at Serbia Fashion Week.
The special lifetime achievement award, reserved only for those whose impact on the fashion industry was significant on a global level and without whom fashion and design simply wouldn’t be what they are today, was presented to guest of honor Patrizia Gucci by the president of Serbia Fashion Week, Svetlana Horvat. Madame Kamile Kaselyte presented the Best Male Model award to Milan Todorović, and Art Director of Serbia Fashion Week Eymeric Francois presented the Best Female Model award to Tara Šljukić. The Spirit of Serbia Fashion Week award was presented to Le Piaf restaurant, Museum Club, and Tunnel Club, longtime associates of this manifestation.
Last but not least came the biggest categories. The French designer Cyril Mirat won Best International Collection, presented to him by Serbia Fashion Week President Svetlana Horvat. Most Promising Young Designer went to the Serbian fashion brand PRiK, presented by William Arlotti, CEO of the Parisian media agency House Off. Best National Women’s Collection went to Marija Šabić, and Best National Men’s Collection to Boško Jakovljević. These two awards were presented by Patrizia Gucci, Adrian Mizzi, president of Malta Fashion Week, and Donald Potard, president of the jury.
More than 35,000 guests attended the November edition of Serbia Fashion Week. While everyone is still reminiscing and looking back at the photos, the Serbia Fashion Week team is already preparing for the 10th Serbia Fashion Week, scheduled for April 2018. If the past week was any indication, we can expect a true spectacle for the Big 10.
