About KFW
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The most prestigious and respected fashion awards in Ireland.
KFW and the Irish Fashion Industry Awards has organically become the most prestigious and respected fashion event in Ireland which both promotes and celebrates emerging Irish fashion professional talents. Over the past years, KFW has showcased early in their careers some of the now biggest emerging names in the fashion business, including Umit Kutluk, Natalie B Coleman, Emma Manley, Helen Steele, Una Burke, Don O’Neill, Laura Jayne Halton, Delphine Grandjouan, Colin Horgan, Niamh O’Neill, Sinead Doyle and many more.
Our continuing objective is to develop KFW and the Irish Fashion Industry Awards as a place, and a professional platform for the very best of emerging Irish and international fashion designers to gather, showcase, celebrate and sell.
With the support of IMAGE Magazine, valued sponsors, local and national media, and the local fashion industry – the event has developed year on year and today is recognised as one of Ireland’s most prestigious national fashion industry award events.
Building lasting relationships with our sponsors is critical to our on going development. Our media partnership with IMAGE Magazine has been a major contributing factor to attracting national recognition. We want to work with the best in the business, and we are also conscious of giving our sponsors, a return on their investment. KFW have also secured Lancome Paris as MUA and Beauty partners, and see these as long term partnerships. KFW has also contracted top models and works with top industry stylists, producers and event management professionals to stage shows that both captivate the audience and sell the collections.
The KFW Irish Fashion Industry Awards continue to grow in both level and standards of entries, and now attract entries from the whole of Ireland and the UK. Numbers attending from those working in the industry continues to increase, with over 70% of attendees from outside Kerry (rest of Ireland and the UK).
KFW is also an excellent networking platform and designers, buyers, retailers, industry creatives and media meet and connect over the days and nights of KFW.
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Previous Judges:
Melanie Morris (Chairperson of Judging Panel every year since 2009)
Don O Neill, Fashion Director, Theia
Joanne Hynes, Fashion Designer
Liz Greehy, Fashion Journalist and Editor of Stylebible.ie
Liadan Hynes, Fashion Editor, Sunday Independent Life Magazine
Constance Harris, Fashion Editor, Sunday Independent
Bairbre Power, Fashion Editor, Irish Independent
Louise Kennedy, Fashion Designer
Eilis Boyle, Fashion Designer
Ingrid Hoey, TV and Celebrity Stylist
Lisa Brady, Fashion Journalist, Sunday Business Post
Helen Steele, Fashion Designer
Aisling Farinella, Fashion Stylist and Editor
Previous Winners:
Colin Horgan, womenswear
Laura Jayne Halton, womenswear
Sinead Doyle, womenswear
Matt Doody, womenswear
Simone Rocha, womenswear
Natalie B Coleman, womenswear
Michael Leong, milliner
Caroline Matthews, House of Caroline Atelier, Bridal
Delphine Grandjouan, Bridal
Carol Kennelly, milliner
Fiona Mangan, milliner
Ruth Doyle, womenswear
Anne Morgan, Distinct Models, fashion businessperson
Laura Kinsella, milliner
Eilish McCormick, fashion photography
Willow & Clo, jewellery
Linda Conway, Stylist
Concrete Collar, Fashion Blog
Helen Steele, womenswear