Bianca Saunders was named the winner of the 32nd Andam Fashion Award, the jury members announced on Thursday, July 1, 2021, during a ceremony hosted by the French minister of culture, Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin in Palais-Royal in Paris.
A privileged mentorship by Cédric Charbit, ceo and president of Balenciaga, on both the creative and strategic dimensions of the business, to develop the label and strengthen its international reputation plus a cash prize of 300,000 euros, make up the prize.
“Bianca Saunders presented a solid and unique project anchored in the now and today’s values. I would like to sincerely thank ANDAM and all the jury members for this choice which contributes unveil future successes and opens up our industry to broader horizons,“ said Cédric Charbit, ceo and president of Balenciaga.
The Pierre Bergé Prize, which is dedicated to young French companies and is worth 100,000 euros, went to EgonLab, a genderless brand launched in 2019 by Florentin Glémarec and Kévin Nompeix. Egonlab will be accompanied by Sophie Delafontaine, Artistic Director of Longchamp who will help the brand to manage safe and global growth.
“I am proud and pleased to offer my support and expertise to two young talents as Kevin Nompeix and Florentin Glémarec for EGONlab. I am very impressed by the incredible energy spread by all these upcoming creative entrepreneurs. I am delighted that Paris keeps being a breeding ground for such a young, dynamic, multicultural, and international creativity like M. Pierre Bergé used to consider and value,” said Sophie Delafontaine, Artistic Director of Longchamp.
The Fashion Accessories Prize of 50,000 euros went to Aswad, the brand established by Moroccan leather goods designer Sonia Ahmimou in 2015 in Paris. The designer will benefit from a one-year mentorship and the personal guidance of Giovanna Engelbert, fashion editor, stylist and Swarovski’s creative director and will be given access to the Swarovski teams to support the development of her brand.
“Swarovski is proud to be a part of the Andam Fashion Awards 2021, supporting the newest generation of talent. This year’s Accessories Prize winner, Aswad, has a unique voice, viewpoint, and sense of wonder that we can’t wait to support and nurture over the next year of mentorship,” commented Giovanna Engelbert, fashion editor, stylist, and Swarovski’s creative director.
Finally, selected by a fashion and innovation experts committee, the Finnish startup Spinnova which manufactures wood-based textile fibers without harmful chemicals, won the Andam Fashion Innovation Award.
Iris Van Herpen, Y/Project, Koché and Marine Serre are among the winners of the previous editions.
Founded by Nathalie Dufour and chaired by Guillaume Houzé with the commitment of the French Ministry of Culture and DEFI (Committee for the Promotion and Development of the French Fashion Industry), Andam, the French acronym for National Association of the Development of the Fashion Arts, is a stepping stone for French and foreign fashion talents and innovative startup. Andam is also supported by sponsors such as Balenciaga, Chanel, Chloé, Fondation Pierre Bergé Yves Saint Laurent, Galeries Lafayette, Google, Hermès, Kering, Lacoste, Longchamp, Lvmh, L’oréal Paris, Otb, Premiere Classe, Saint Laurent, Swarovski And Tomorrow.
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Photo: Bianca Saunders. Courtesy of Andam @ Nathan Yamniak
