Carla Fernandez from Mexico - inaugural winner of International Young Fashion Entrepreneur of the year.

Carla, 34, is the founder of Taller Flora, a fashion label and mobile laboratory that travels throughout Mexico visiting indigenous communities, especially co-ops of women that create handmade textiles. She has developed a unique style through the belief that only radical contemporary design will prevent the extinction of craftsmanship. Using an innovative pedagogy, artisans communicate through design even in those places where only indigenous dialects are used. Taller Flora is a leader through its business model of a fair-trade network and environmental policies that encourage responsible practices in the fashion industry.

The judges were highly impressed: “Carla communicated a beautiful and passionate analysis of fashion in Mexico, from its beginning to modern day. This contextualised her unique business model which has real socio-economic impact. She has a clear and distinct design philosophy, which is highly personal and representative of her cultural identity, while speaking to the international fashion industry."

Carla received the physical IYFE prize of a bespoke piece by the renowned glass designers Gillies Jones Glass – and will of course receive the financial prize of £7,500 to be spent on a project with the British Council.

The judges had this to say about our national winner Darshi Keerthisena -

A very impressive candidate on all levels – both her personality and her product charmed the judges.  She has already achieved a great deal in rejuvenating her family business and through her participation in international fairs shows her ambition to take this success to the next level.  

The final jury was:

• Colin McDowell, Senior Fashion Editor, Sunday Times and Founder of Fashion Fringe (Jury Chair)
• Suzanne Tide-Frater, Independent Brand Consultant and former Creative Director of Harrods and Selfridges
• Julie Pinches, Academic Team Leader in Fashion, Nottingham Trent University
• Alberto Bartoli, Head of Marketing, IMG Europe
• Alison Moloney, Fashion and Design Advisor, British Council

Darshi Keerthisena Director and Head of Design at her family-owned business, Buddhi Arts Pvt Ltd, which manufactures, retails, and exports apparel and accessories under the brand Buddhi Batiks was unanimously chosen by the panel as the winner of the 1st ever International Young fashion Entrepreneur of the Year 2008 award. The judges were of the opinion that Darshi would be a worthy ambassador for Sri Lanka and that through her entrepreneurial skills she has exposed batik to the world as a product with international appeal in keeping with cutting-edge fashion trends.

Darshi as the National Winner, will compete alongside 9 other winners from around the world for the title of International Young Fashion Entrepreneur of the year to be held in London in February 2008.

The IYFEY 2008 award is fully supported by the British Council and the Hirdaramani Group of Companies in association with Gray Colombo, MTV and YES FM.