International Arts of Fashion Foundation Reveals 9 Top Student Designers
The Arts of Fashion Foundation, a San Francisco-based fashion education non-profit, recently unveiled 9 fashion students selected in their annual competition. The students were reviewed by an international jury lead by iconic Antwerp Six member Walter Van Beirendonck, alongside other influential Belgian designers such as Jean-Paul Knott of Brussels, Jan-Jan Van Essche of Antwerp and Zoë Vermeire of Ghent.
Under the theme “Momentum” and the art direction of California-born designer Brandon Wen, the official fashion film of the International Arts of Fashion Competition premiered at the same time.
Over the course of the year the Foundation received fashion design proposals from 366 students representing 116 fashion institutions from 29 countries. Hosted at the Cristobal Balenciaga Museum in Getaria, Spain, 50 projects that reflected creative and innovative potential were selected from the initial group. At stake was a chance to win apprenticeships with renowned fashion houses from across the globe, including the Métiers d’Art – Chanel, as well as scholarships for creative programs to further develop their careers.
In the past the competition has concluded with a final jury session and fashion show in San Francisco to select winners. However, with limited travel for students and professionals due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Arts of Fashion decided to create a film for the final presentation of the international competition.
The final results and prizes, including apprenticeships with reputable design houses and scholarships, are:
- Arts of Fashion Apprenticeship Award | Maison Lesage – Paris: QUANG THAI NGUYEN – Canada | LCI Montreal
- Arts of Fashion Apprenticeship Award | Maison Montex – Paris: YINUO WANG – China – Tsinghua University
- Arts of Fashion Apprenticeship Award | Maison Lemarié – Paris: EMILY ROSE SAUNDERS – UK – Norwich University of the Arts
Arts of Fashion MasterClass Scholarship Awards
- JIWON JANG – South Korea – Kookmin University
- SOA SHIN – South Korea – Kookmin University
- YUANYUAN ZHANG – China – Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts YAYI TAN – China – Donghua University
- CERASELA-IRINA NICOARA – Romania – University of Art and Design Cluj-Napoca
- ARIADNA GEGUNDEZ – Spain – LCI Barcelona – Felicidad Duce
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Arts of Fashion, with Antwerp chosen as the city to begin a year of celebrations in cities across the world that are significant to both fashion and to the Foundation.
Exquisite additions to the celebration of creativity in fashion are the contribution of long-time Committee Chair, Juliet Bergh, the support of the City of Antwerp, and of a network of partners, including Ulla Models Agency and Jill Models Management Agency in Antwerp, the Make Up For Ever Academy in Brussels, and the Fashion department of the Antwerp Royal Academy of Fine Arts. Through these series of events, the Foundation aims to create strong ties and promote creative exchange between design professionals in all areas of the fashion world.
