Data engineer and photographer Fuaad Abdool took home the Best Fashion Photographer award at this year’s South African Fashion Awards (SAFA) on Saturday, 3 October 2026, following his diverse career in the fashion industry.
Abdool was both shocked and excited after his first-ever SAFA win, expressing his true appreciation for the award.
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Fuaad Abdool speaks on SAFA win
After receiving the award, the photographer shared his experience of receiving this honour:
“I still can’t believe it,” he expressed, sitting in the reality of being recognised for his work.
The photographer then spoke to BONA after receiving his award, reflecting on his diverse background and career in the fashion industry. He shared what he believed were his contributions to the fashion industry.
“We are responsible for the thousand words,” he shared, acknowledging his work as a photographer as “arresting” one’s attention. Abdool went into great detail explaining the significance of photography in helping the visual storytelling of fashion as a whole.
He highlighted how, as a photographer, he is responsible for showcasing every single element that went into the garment from the stitching down to the silhouette, whilst showcasing the emotion and symbolism the garment carries.
What fashion means to Fuaad Abdool
Abdool started in the fashion industry as a model, which kicked off a diverse, multi-disciplinary career in fashion. Reflecting on the polar opposite roles he has played as both a model and a fashion photographer, he told BONA:
“As a model, when I look back, there was always a general physics reason, but at the same time you wear clothes to give you words before you speak.”
Quoting fashion designer Tom Ford, he said, “Dressing well is a sign of good manners.”
Essentially, for Abdool, fashion as a model can “provide armour” as well as “provide enticement.”
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