Alexandre Mattiussi wins Andam Prize

Menswear label AMI Alexander Mattiussi was named the winner of the 24th Andam Fashion Award, by an international jury panel, which included Renzo Rosso, president of OTB, Nadja Swarovski, and Sara Andelman, creative director of

Colette this week in Paris.

A graduate from Duperré School, Mattiussi has honed his fashion knowledge at Dior’s ‘30 Avenue Montaigne’ men’s line, before joining Givenchy as first menswear assistant in 2004 and Marc Jacobs Men in 2009. In 2010, the designer launched his own label AMI, a ready-to-wear menswear line, which debut its first collection in January 2011 during Paris Men’s Fashion Week.

Commenting on this win, Mattiussi, said: “Thanks to Andam, AMI’s growth potential is ensured. This award is also for my family, my friends and my team and for all the help and support they have provided from the very start.”

Andam names 2013 winner

Mattiussi wins a purchase order from Canadian department store Hudson's Bay, two seasons of mentoring by Rosso, as well as a cash prize of 250,000 euros to help “establish his label” and to “create his structure in France and become an active participant in the French economy”.

Presenting the prize, Rosso, said: “I am very happy to be the mentor of this 2013 edition and its cutting-edge selection. Each year, the Andam prize grows in terms of quality and creativity. I am certain that most of the 2013 finalists will become important in the future”.

This year’s award featured seven finalists including London-based fashion designers Masha Ma and Yang Li, who were both hoping to follow in the footsteps of British designers Giles Deacon and Gareth Pugh, who were previous winners of the prestigious fashion award.

The other finalists were handbag designer Olympia Le Tan, couturier Iris Van Herpen, and international womenswear designers Maison Rabih Kayrouz and Pedro Lourenço.

In addition to the main prize, Christine Phung was awarded the second edition of the First Collections Award, valued at 75,000 euros, which includes exposure at Galeries Lafayette's Paris flagship.

Founded in 1989, the Andam, the French National Association for the Development of the Arts and Fashion, aims to identify emerging talents in contemporary fashion design and reward talented designers the opportunity to establish and develop their labels in France. Previous winners of the Andam Fashion Award have included Hakaan, Anthony Vacarello and Julien David.

Images: AMI Alexander Mattiussi AW13 collection