Loro Piana continues to support young talents through the art of knitting and announced the winners of the 10th edition of the Loro Piana 2026 Knit Design Award. The students Viola Schmidt and Halla Lilja Ármannsdóttir from The Swedish School of Textiles received this year’s Knit Design Award, acknowledging their unique take on colour and light with their project Glitsky – Mother of Pearl.
The award ceremony took place at Galleria Rossana Orlandi in Milan under the patronage of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, following presentations to the jury the previous day. The jury, chaired by Frédéric Arnault, ceo of Loro Piana, included Anna Dello Russo, creative consultant, fashion stylist, and former editor of Vogue Japan; Sara Maino, creative director of the Sozzani Foundation and ambassador of the CNMI; Rossana Orlandi, founder of the eponymous Milanese gallery; Satoshi Kuwata, founder of Setchu; Leaf Greener, fashion editor and critic; and Nick Vinson, editor and creative director. Joining them were the Maison's internal representatives: Elvira Grimaldi, Alessandra Varianini, Lucia De Cet, and Edward Buchanan.
As recipients of the award, Schmidt and Ármannsdóttir received a trophy, a scholarship, and professional experience with Loro Piana. They will also have the opportunity to finalize their design in the Maison’s historic yarn and knitwear workshops in Piedmont, working alongside artisans and specialists. The completed piece will also be showcased at Pitti Filati, the international trade fair dedicated to yarns and knitwear innovation, taking place in Florence from June 24 to 26.
A special mention was awarded to the project submitted by Li-Yue Chen and Tzu-Wei Yang, from Shih Chien University in Taipei.
The Knit Design Award edition saw the participation of eight renowned design schools, including the Italian Accademia Costume e Moda, the Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo, the École Duperré in Paris, the Parsons School of Design in New York, and Shih Chien University.
The Knit Design Award celebrates a decade of supporting and nurturing the talents of tomorrow. This year’s theme, Knitting Light – Craft on the Evolution of Colour, invited students to reinterpret the House’s signature yarns with a focus on nuanced hues and innovative craftsmanship. Accompanied by an exhibition with winning entries from the past editions, the award inspires creativity and forward-thinking while passing on the Maison’s unique savoir-faire. Through the initiative, the brand has collaborated with 21 schools across eight countries, engaging more than 90 students from 15 nationalities and donating 1,000 kilograms of yarn over the past decade.
Photo: the winners of the Loro Piana Knit Award 2026 together with the jury
