IYFE awards 2009, a celebration of creative genius

11 Jun '08

2 min read

The International Young Fashion Entrepreneur award (IYFE) is a British Council initiative that seeks to champion and celebrate the importance of creative entrepreneurs working in the field of fashion.

The award is the result of a cross departmental collaboration between the Creative Economy Unit (CEU) and Design unit (DES) of the British Council to showcase international innovation in fashion promotion, using the UK as the nexus for cultural, creative and commercial exchange.

This award forms part of a global British Council award which has now expanded to cover all areas of the creative industries. In 2004 we launched the first award for entrepreneurs in publishing. This was followed by awards in design (2005), music (2006), screen (2007) and fashion (2008). We are now adding new awards in communications, interactive, performing arts and visual arts, so that we have awards covering all the creative industries.

2009 will be the second time IYFE takes place. The first award took place in London in February 2008, where finalists from ten different countries including Sri Lanka competed for the award. Darshi Keerthisena of Buddhi batiks fame competed along side 9 other international winners from countries such as India, Indonesia , Mexico Lebanon, Pakistan etc. for the international award.

This year too the Sri Lankan winner will be one of ten international finalists and will compete in London for the title of International Young Fashion Entrepreneur 2009. This year's short listed countries are Brazil, India , Indonesia , Mexico, Saudi Arabia , South Africa , Sri Lanka , Poland , Thailand & Tunisia

The IYFE award is unique in rewarding entrepreneurial ability. We recognise that a finalist may be active as a fashion designer, but this should be secondary to their focus as an entrepreneur in the promotion of the fashion industry in Sri Lanka.

British Council United Kingdom