by Lovele Hope,
On the evening of 15 November 2025, the Louis Leakey Auditorium at the National Museum of Kenya was transformed into a runway and awards theatre as the Grand Fashion Awards 2025 staged its second edition. The organizers leaned into an eco-conscious positioning for the festival — described on the awards’ official platform as “Eco-Elegance; where style meets sustainability” — and used the night to spotlight designers and brands that are marrying creativity with more responsible practice. https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/lifestyle/2025/11/19/grand-fashion-awards-2025-celebrates-a-spectacular-second-edition-with-glitz-glamour-kenyas-top-fashionistas/
The Grand Fashion Awards is presented by the Grand Fashion team; the founder spoke from the stage about building the platform to amplify Kenyan talent and to make fashion a driver of cultural and economic value. Vivian Ndegwa, the founder, framed the awards as an acceleration platform for designers and creatives with promise of even larger plans for the coming year. Capital FM
The event attracted over 400 attendees. Notable figures on the guest list included musicians and public personalities such as Stivo Simple Boy, actor Nick Mutuma, and media names like MC Jimmie Kajim demonstrated that the awards are attracting cross-industry attention beyond fashion insiders. Capital FM
The evening’s main host for the ceremony was media personality Phyline Jean, while the red-carpet experience was curated and led by entertainment journalist Kalondu Musyimi both credited for setting a lively and stylish tone for arrivals, interviews and social media moments. The red-carpet coverage amplified the event across social platforms and helped showcase looks that later won “Red Carpet” style mentions and related categories. Capital FM
The Grand Fashion Awards run a broad set of categories covering the fashion ecosystem — from Designer of the Year, Stylist, Clothing Line, and Bridal/Wedding Designer, to practical trade categories such as Fashion Shop of the Year, Barbers, and Beauty Spas. The organizers published a long category list (the awards portal lists dozens of categories including sustainability-focused awards such as Sustainable Fashion Brand and Upcycle Fashion Brand), which explains how the ceremony handed out around 40 awards across creative and trade disciplines. Voting and participation channels (including voting in previous cycles) point to a mixed jury/public model used by the organizers. Grand Fashion+1
Press and social coverage identified many category winners; below are several of the most talked-about results and moments from the night:
- Fashion Designer of the Year — WizMario. Widely reported across media outlets and the awards’ own social channels, WizMario was named Designer of the Year for 2025. Instagram+1
- Fashion Shop of the Year — Zannetti Gents (Zannetti Gents Fashion). The brand celebrated its win across Instagram and Facebook posts. Facebook+1
- Lifetime Achievement Award — Hon. Raila Odinga. A high-profile honorary award given during the ceremony and listed among the headline awardees. Capital FM
- Honorary / Inspirational Personality — Stivo (Stivo Simple Boy). Stivo Simple Boy received an honorary Most Fashionable Inspirational Personality award, one of several celebrity-style recognitions that night. Capital FM
(Full lists of winners were published by media outlets — those lists run to dozens of categories; the awards’ social feed and news coverage provide complete rosters.) Mpasho+1
The evening mixed award presentations with runway showcases from several established and emerging designers. There was runway runs by at least five designers and performances that kept the energy high between awards — a format that balances recognition with showmanship.
Analysis, what this edition signaled for Kenyan fashion
- Sustainability is front and center. The “Eco-Elegance” language on the awards’ platform and the presence of sustainability categories reflect a push to reposition Kenyan fashion as ethically aware and environmentally conscious — a trend that mirrors global industry shifts. Grand Fashion
- Cross-sector visibility. The attendance and awards handed to public figures (music, TV, influencers) show the awards’ strategy of building cultural relevance beyond runway purists. This cross-pollination raises commercial and sponsorship appeal for Kenyan designers. Capital FM
- Platform growth and legitimacy. With professional media partners covering the evening and hundreds in attendance, the Grand Fashion Awards appear to be scaling as a recurring industry marker — especially now that they publish robust category lists and operate open voting/nomination mechanics. Grand Fashion Awards+1