ANDAM PRIZE ANNOUNCES FINALISTS
Ester Manas, GmbH and Gauchere are among the six brands in the running to win the grand prize at this year’s Association Nationale pour le Développement des Arts de la Mode (ANDAM) Awards, announced last week. Other finalists include Amsterdam-based Duran Lantink, who centers his brand around upcycling old designer pieces, Louis-Gabriel Nouchi whose gender fluid pieces are developed using environmentally conscious techniques, and Italian designer Andrea Adamo, who’s label Andreādamo creates sexy, figure-hugging knitwear.
The competition, which was founded in 1989 by Nathalie Dufour, is focused on promoting young European brands who have a strong social consciousness at the center of their design practices. Consisting of five awards – the Grand Prize, Special Prize, Pierre Bergé Prize, Accessories Prize and Innovation Prize – the winners of each will be granted a tailored mentorship and variety of cash prizes, from €300,000 for the Grand Prize and €100,000 for the rest. The awards are also patriotic in nature, requiring all applicants to own a French company.
Chloé’s chief executive officer, Riccardo Bellini, who is this year’s prize mentor and oversaw the selection of other members of the jury, assembled a crack team of 12 experts, including model Quannah Chasinghorse-Potts and human rights campaigner Trisha Shetty. Speaking to WWD, Bellini highlighted: “The selection of this year’s jury wanted to reflect our ambition to really show how environmental and social considerations are as important as aesthetic and creativity in today’s world.”
The significance of coming out on top can be seen in the formidable ensemble of past winners, which include Robert Wun, Viktor & Rolf, Jeremy Scott, Georges Wendell and Marine Serre. The jury is set to meet on June 29 to decide on the winners, who will then be announced at the ANDAM Prize Ceremony in September 2023.
