Virgin Atlantic, Bond Bank, Others Bag Stylish Brands Awards
By Tunmise Adekunle
Touted and highly publicized as an event that will meet the standards of the Oscar and Grammy Awards in the United States of America, the maiden edition of St. Moritz Style Awards took place on July 10, 2004 at Eko Hotel and Suites amidst pomp and pageantry.
Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic emerged the most stylish airline ahead of British Airways, Emirates, Bellview Airlines and AeroContractors. The John Darlinton led Bond Bank head office on Victoria Island, Lagos was picked by judges as the brand with most stylish exterior, while Oceanic bank's Chief Marketing Officer was adjudged the male style personality of the year alongside Mrs. Ifeanyinwa Ighodalo who emerged female style personality of the year.
Kelechi Amadi Obi, whose photograph titled "lwe", which in Igbo means anger, was voted the best photograph; Sony X505 was the favourite in computing device category; Nokia 7200 with its intimidating features won in the communication category relegating Segam MY C-35, Nokia 9500, Sony Ericson P900 and Siemens SL55 Limited Edition to the background.
Others are Nakamichi SS5 brand of high powered entertainment unit that was picked as the favourite in that category; Design options emerged the brand with the best interior and building designs ; Ovation emerged tops in the magazine category; while BMW 5 series, Range Rover, Mini Cooper, Hummer and Audi TT competed with Mercedes Benz SL that got the public vote for the most stylish car
The Dome, Abuja outshone Club Towers, Bacchus and Night-Box, Port Harcourt in the Night Club category, while Onidiri beat Bobby's Signature, Ibikunle Olatunji and Emmanuel Parkes in the hair designs category. Rivista and Davida were the preferred in the fashion outlet and fashion design categories respectively.
All the nominees and eventual winners were earlier nominated by members of the public as their sylish brands to vie for the top shot.
The show of the day which kicked off with the duo of Olisa Adibua of COOL FM and the ex-Most Beautiful Girl, Ann Suinner as compere had Funmi Iyanda of NTA New Dawn on 10 with an on the spot interviews with guests, as they arrived the venue.
In his welcome address, Kingsley Wheaton, the marketing director, British American Tobacco, BAT, the official sponsors of the St. Moritz Style Awards declared that in the past three years, the brand has continued to support the style and fashion industry, raising both the bar of style consciousness and style reporting, through the Style Selection.
Reeling off the achievements of St. Moritz, in the area of its contributions to Nigerian fashion and style industry, he stated had been done, even in the face of several inhibitions facing that peculiar industry.
Endorsing the award, Mr. Guy Murray Bruce, vice president Silverbird Production, who presented some of the awards described its as a right step in the right direction which will eventually pave the way for greater things for the style and entertainment industry in the country. Mr. Bruce who said the event is reminiscent of the Oscars and Grammy awards that he has witnessed.
Kelechi Amadi Obi poured encomium on the organizers for putting an event of this magnitude together which he described at a trailblazer. He equally thanked members of the public for voting his photograph.
Babajide Oluwasanmi of Bond Bank, whose new ultra modern Head Office building located in Victoria Island, Lagos won the most stylish building design category, described the event as breathtaking. He commended the organizers for leaving no detail unexplored and no stone unturned. To this end, he urged the organisers to maintain, and even surpass the feat next year.
Dele Momodu, publisher of top of the range and all gloss society magazine, Ovation, salutes the courage of the organizers for putting in the resources that made the event successful.
Obaro Ibru, the style male personality of the year gave kudos to the organizers for packaging a world class event and for taking time out to search for the most stylish personality. Obaro, who says he shops in London thanked God and his parents for providing almost everything he needed to succeed . He said he got the inspiration to be stylish from his parents whom he described as the most stylish blacks in London in the 1970s
Among many of the dignitaries present were Mr. Biodun Shobanjo, Chairman Troika Holdings, Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi of Prima Garnet Ogilvy and Mrs. Betty Irabor, publisher, Genevieve.
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