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BELGIUM / Antwerp: The Future Fashion Designer Scholarship
by Modem – Posted June 12 2014
© Modem

There is a growing interest honoring young fashion designers lately––the newly founded LVMH Young Fashion Designer Prize being the latest example that the fashion industry is eager to discover and support fashion's up-and-coming talents.

That said, it doesn't take an industry heavyweight to launch a fashion prize: some initiatives are created on a much smaller scale, and yet, they could have a considerable impact on how young fashion designers think and act within the industry.

In this context, Bruno Pieters, founder and designer of the sustainable fashion platform Honest by, has launched the Future Fashion Designer Scholarship (FFDS); a new scholarship worth 10,000 euros, that aims to boost the activity of young fashion designers who work in a sustainable, human and animal friendly way.

"The FFDS is a dream that I've had ever since I launched Honest by two years ago, and now we finally made time for it," Pieters told NOWFASHION. "At Honest by we believe that the story behind the design needs to be as beautiful as the design itself. We are convinced that it is crucial today to show appreciation and support those students who share this philosophy," he added.

While some might question Pieters' financial support––when compared to the industry standards (300,000 euros for the winner of the LVMH Young Fashion Designer Prize, 250,000 euros for the annual ANDAM prize), the FFDS might seem to be just a drop in the luxury bucket––it is important to note that unlike the above mentioned industry prizes, Pieter's initiative has a humanistic dimension and raises awareness on environmental and social issues.

As a matter of fact, the Future Fashion Designer Scholarship embodies the will to not only support sustainability in fashion, but to embrace it as a necessary change. "There are many student prizes today that encourage students to continue working in the existing fashion mold. Many people believe that it will be the next generation of designers who will work in a more sustainably way but at the moment that is not happening," Pieters continued.

"Young brands are still doing and copying the old generation. And that can only change if we encourage students today to adopt a new and progressive fashion behavior. That is what we want to do with the FFDS." Applications are open until August 25th, to all fashion design students who are about to start a Master degree at a fashion design school or institution. The winner of the FFDS will be announced in September 2014.

Elisabeta Tudor @ MODEMONLINE via NOWFASHION

Bruno Pieters, the former Hugo by Hugo Boss creative director, made headlines by launching his new label, Honest by, in January 2012. Honest by guarantees total production transparency, from the sewing thread to the final outfit, and reveals its actual manufacturers and production steps on its web-shop. As of today, Bruno Pieters has invited several well-known fashion designers to create a collection following the Honest by policies, such as ready-to-wear designers Nicolas Andreas Taralis, Calla Haynes, and jewelry and accessories designer Heaven Tanudiredja.

Photo: Courtesy of Honest by

© Modem