Creative App – Best User Picture

FASH European Fashion Award

The FASH European Fashion Award has been presented by the German Apparel Industry Foundation (SDBI) annually since 2005. It targets exceptionally talented students from all areas of design in their fourth semester or later. SDBI was founded in 1978 by fashion entrepreneur Klaus Steilmann. Its goal is the progressive endorsement of new talent. In 2008, this non-profit organisation received an award as part of an initiative by the German government and business world to promote Germany as a business location and as a ‘Land of Ideas’

Winners of the FASH European Fashion Awards 2010

Where does privacy begin and where does it end? Who knows me, who recognises me and who has control over me? Technology is blurring the lines between our personal and public lives. An initial feeling of power is followed by helplessness, apprehension and a pressure to conform. The need for protection and security increases; for a closeness to others, for originality and an identity of our own. Can fashion be a place of retreat?

The European Fashion Award – FASH 2010 with the theme of Privacy sought answers to these questions.

A panel of judges consisting of design, industry, marketing and media experts selected the winners from 63 participants from nine countries according to predetermined criteria. The award presentation was held on 7 February during the ispo international trade fair for sports equipment and sports fashion in Munich.

First prize went to Michael Court (fourth semester, University of the Arts, Bremen) for his collection entitled The Strength of Silence. These loose-fitting garments for men and women are so well designed that an aura of inner calm seems to descend upon the wearer. The quality of all his elements – from perception, concept and design to tailoring, detail and expression – is nothing short of exceptional. Ivonne Fehn, Fashion Director of the Süddeutsche Zeitung Magazine, Munich, and member of the FASH panel of judges: “Michael Court has accomplished something very rare these days: serious, yet natural-looking fashion.”

Birgit Brockbals (graduate of the Academy for Fashion & Design, Hamburg) won second prize for her ladies’ collection internal = external. Her graduate project breaks down the barriers between intimacy and public life, between what we are and what we pretend to be. “Her designs impress with a compelling interplay of volume, body and outlines” says SDBI project leader and jury member, Joachim Schirrmacher.

Third prize went to André Amorim and Marieke-Sophie Schmidt. Amorim (eighth semester, Escola Superior de Artes Aplicadas de Castelo Branco, Portugal) drew inspiration for his ladies’ collection from his grandmother’s wardrobe. Marcel Herrig, Unicut Design Office, Shenzen, and jury member: “Hello, Grandma!, the work of André Amorim, is gutsy, fresh and exciting.” Marieke-Sophie Schmidt (fifth semester, University of the Arts, Bremen) came up with a public external concept and a private internal concept for her Mimikry womenswear collection. Jury member and Head of Design at Adidas Originals Johan Buskqvist: “Her young aesthetic fashion is relevant, modern, natural and has a sense of humour.”

Prizes included an overall pot of €10,000 as well as four material vouchers from the Swiss Textiles Association to the total value of €4,500. Acclaimed photographer Roderick Aichinger (Monocle, Musikexpress, Neon) snapped the winning works for this year’s catalogue, which was designed by Christof Nardin.