ELLE 2014 Rising Star Design Award

Happy Monday everyone!  A very special friend of mine bought me these flowers as a get-well gift and I thought they were just so beautiful that I wanted to share them.  It's amazing how flowers can brighten up your whole day.  I'm going make an effort to buy fresh flowers every weekend from now on because they really do inspire me.  Speaking of inspiration, you will need to draw some together for what I have to share today.

While I'm not a fashion designer myself, I think that any graduate training program or mentorship for young graduates starting up their careers is so important.  For all of you that are aspiring fashion designers, ELLE and Mr Price have started their search for the 2014 winner of the ELLE Rising Star Design Award.  

This award gives ambitious, young, up-and-coming designers the chance to launch their careers in the best possible way.  The winner of the award will receive a cash prize of R30 000 as  well as R7 000 to fund a new range of designs.  Finalists will be given the opportunity to showcase their designs at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Africa in October 2014.  The winner will also be given a two week internship at Mr Price head office in Durban as well as a two week internship with the editor of ELLE magazine and her team.

• Who can enter?  Final year fashion design students or fashion design graduates with no more than 3 years experience qualify for entry.  Entrants must also be born in an African country or have obtained citizenship in one.
• When can I enter?  Entries have already opened and you have until 11 August to make sure you get your entry in.
• Where can I enter?  Entry forms can be downloaded here.

To all those entering, good luck!!!

The highlights of 2013

2013 is over and here is 2014 already.  Time moves so fast when you're having fun!  I just wanted to take this moment to reflect over the past year.  My blog continues to grow and I can only thank you for that.  You make my day everyday.  Thank you for sharing this incredible journey with me.

In this past year, I've had the most wonderful experience of working with LEGiT fashion (if you missed it, you can take a look over here).  I've been able to learn the scientific methods behind skin care with Dermalogica (here).  I've had the opportunity of experiencing a number of my favourite food, wine and design events such as Decorex, Taste of Joburg to name only two.  I've attended the most wonderful store openings.  I was honoured to have been asked to write articles for online magazines.  I have also appeared in Grazia, People and LEGiT magazines this year much to my surprise!

Collaborating is a word that I'd use to describe 2013 as I've been doing just that with bloggers from South Africa and across the pond.  I love to see the blogging world work together so you can be sure to see more collaborations coming in 2014.  Meeting local bloggers has also been a highlight of my year.  There are so many of you out there and each one of you fascinate me.  I feel so lucky to walk alongside you.

I tend to take blogging day by day, never expecting anything but the self-satisfaction that I have something I love to do in my free time.  That being said, I have so often been so surprised when a super exciting email lands in my inbox or a fantastic delievery arrives at my door.  I'm so often gobsmacked but these little pleasures have really added highlights to my year.  The biggest blogging surprise I've had at all this year, however, came in the form of Irina Doman, a blogger I have the privilege of calling my friend.  It's funny how this little blog has created such a great friendship.  You can visit Irina's blog here.

This past year I received my first DSLR camera as a graduation present from my dad.  I have been having such fun learning the ropes in photography.  Hand-in-hand I have also been learning Photoshop which helped me redesign my blog which was quite exciting!  I also expended the blog to Facebook, Twitter (@arumlilea) and Instagram (@arumlilea) which has been loads of fun.  I like to share snippets of my life on each but also unique from each other just to keep things interesting.

In 2013 I was able to study further, something I'm really passionate about.  This year I dedicated my studies to a Master's degree in Public International law, a field very close to my heart.  I was wonderful to have been able to learn more and dedicate time to this and for that reason 2013 was a big year for me.

I was also able to travel quite a bit.  I ventured off to areas of South Africa that I had never been before which has made me so grateful to live in a country with so much beauty to offer.  I travelled to the United States once again to see the likes of cities I have never been to before (here, here and here).  I also experienced Halloween for the first time.  I hope to visit there again soon.  I was also lucky enough to be able to travel to Tanzania with my sister which was the most incredible experience that I could have shared with no one better (here and here). I can only hope more travelling is in store for me in 2014!

2014 will see me begin my career as an attorney which is quite monumental.  All my years of studying will finally be put to some use.  Arum Lilea will continue in what I hope will be from strength to strength.  There will  definitely be more outfits to post and stories to tell.

Thank you so much for all your support, every moment spent reading my blog and every comment you make.  I am so lucky to have you all.  Thank you also to my family and friend who have added such a great about of value to this blog (and for constantly listening to me ramble on about it).  Much Love!!!