H&M announces finalists for design award

Retailer H&M has announced its 8 finalists for the 2014 H&M Design Award, chosen from 26 semi-finalists, studying at different fashion institutes around the world. The award, which is now in its third year, named Royal College of Art graduates Camilla Blase Woodman and Xiao Li,

 along with Eddy Anemian, Jia Hua, Devon Halfnight Leflufy, Lina Michal, Sophia Salkari and Henriette Tilanus as this year’s finalists.

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30 design schools, including 6 in the UK across 12 countries to find future talent, and each graduate was selected for their own “unique creativity, technical skills and vision”. Each finalist has won 5,000 euros to present their collections to a grand jury to be in with a chance to show their collection at Mercedes-Benz Stockholm Fashion Week on January 28. The winner will also develop selected pieces from their collection to be sold at selected H&M stores this autumn.

RCA graduates named as H&M Design Award finalists

This year’s grand jury includes designer Erdem, actress Michelle Dockery, style expert Michelle Harper, executive fashion editor of Vogue UK Serena Hood, senior fashion editor of Vogue Italy Sara Maino, as well as H&M’s creative head of design Ann-Sofie Johansson, and H&M’s creative advisor Margareta van den Bosch.

“I am so excited by the finalists for the H&M Design Award 2014. Each has their own unique creativity, amazing technical skills, and the vision to push fashion forwards. I can’t wait to see who will win!” said Ann-Sofie Johansson, H&M’s creative head of design.

In addition to the main prize the competition also has a ‘People’s Prize’, where people can vote for their favourite designer. The winner of the accolade will win a three-month internship at the studio of fashion designer and jury member Erdem in London.

Former alumni of the prize includes London College of Fashion graduate Stine Riis, who was recently named Surface to Air womenswear creative director. Last year’s winner was South Korean designer Minju Kim, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp.

Image: Camilla Blase Woodman and a piece from her collection