Stitched with dreams, Lilongwe based seasoned fashion designer Lilly Alfonso has won a golden thread of honour in Spain.
The celebrated fashion designer, who is also the founder, Chief Executive Officer and Head Designer of the Lilly Alfonso Brand, was recently honoured with an award for her exceptional work in the fashion world at the Prestigious Clevenard Honorary Award at the Clevenard Open Project 2026 fifth edition in Spain.
Alfonso who has exhibited her designs in different platforms both in and outside the country has been decorated with the Clevenard Global Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the global fashion industry through innovative design, creative entrepreneurship and the promotion of African heritage.
The organisers further say in a statement that through her internationally acclaimed collections, visionary leadership and dedication to mentoring emerging designers, Alfonso has elevated African fashion on the world stage while empowering the next generation of creative talent.
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“Her work continues to inspire excellence, cultural pride and transformative impact across the global creative economy,” reads the statement.
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Alfonso said on Monday she was honoured to receive the award saying it was not for her but for Malawi and Africa.
“This means more and it speaks volumes of my works,” the designer, who was also selected as a speaker on ‘Elevating African Fashion on the Global Stage: Creativity, Identity and the Business of Design’, said.
Alfonso said she will continue to create spaces for the discipline and that beyond the runway, she is committed to empowering the next generation of African designers.
“As a Creative DNA Lead Partner with the British Council, I have mentored more than 1,500 emerging creatives, helping position Malawi as a rising force in the global creative economy,” she said.
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Having fashioned the 100 Year Plan, Alfonso highlighted the Malawi Identity SS26 which she launched in 2025 alongside other designers.
Alfonso said Malawi needs to build its own identity and that one of the elements to this is fashion hence racing with the Malawi Identity SS 26.
“For instance, we have a piece of Anazimbiri SS26 inspired by our mother’s wrappers.
What we are saying is that before fashion, before runaways, before trends, there were our mothers. Women who wrapped strength around their waists and this is why we are talking Anazimbiri,” Alfonso said.
