Ximon Lee named the winner of H&M Design Award 2015

H&M has crowned Chinese designer Ximon Lee the winner of it's 2015 Design Award, as the young designer becomes the first men's wear designer to win the award. Not only has the 24 year old Parsons graduate won a cash prize of 50,000 euros, but in addition he will also receive guidance from a H&M mentor and has been given the opportunity to further develop pieces from his winning collection to be sold in selected H&M stores.

Lee was revealed as the winner after he presented his collection on Tuesday, during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Stockholm. His winning collection consisted of 22 looks which incorporated many layers, bonded denim mixed with trash bags which had been transformed into textured vinyl. “Ximon’s collection captivated the jury with its contemporary yet poetic mood, with a strong feeling for fabric and an incredible attention to detail,” said Ann-Sofie Johansson, H&M’s head of design for new development.

Ximon Lee wins H&M Design Award 2015

“It’s a very big surprise for me,” said Lee to WWD, who previously worked at 3.1 Philip Lim and Calvin Klein. Although his designs are created for men, Lee enjoys the thought that his designs will also appeal to women and believes they can be worn by women as well. "Men’s is such a niche market. But I think men’s wear is really changing nowadays. Men’s and women’s are really starting mixing, it’s not the idea of unisex, but people are really willing to try different looks.”

Ximon Lee's collection was inspired by Soviet Russia

The designer explained that this collection was inspired by the documentary "The Children of Leningradsky," which focuses on a community of homeless children living in a station in Moscow during the post-Soviet era and the subsequent trip to Russia. Lee says that the documentary reminded him of his own childhood and growing up in the far northern region of China, near the border with Russia. "The surrounding and the setting reminds me of where I was born, and some of the very vivid memories from early childhood, the gray Soviet architecture of my home town, and the cold."

He hopes that the award will help him launch his own label in the future. "I want to create my own contemporary brand. Men’s wear is getting quite boring, and it is time to put some focus on American men’s wear based in New York."

Magdalena Brozda wins the people's prize

Earlier this month H&M revealed that Polish designer Magdalena Brozda had won the people's prize winner, an award which is open to voters. Her collection is based on positive and 'festive ideas' that surround death, and she incorporate a mixture of unconventional materials in her designs such as leather, paper and organza. Brodza is currently in the process of setting up her own label, to be based in Geneva.