British menswear designer Bianca Saunders has won the ANDAM Fashion Award 2021, winning 300,000 euros and a year of mentoring from Balenciaga president and chief executive officer Cédric Charbit.
In a statement, Saunders said that she plans to use the additional funding to take her brand to the “next level” by reinvesting in company infrastructure, growing brand presence internationally and hosting her first physical catwalk show on the official fashion week calendar.
Commenting on her win, Saunders said: “I can’t put into words how thrilled I am to receive such a prestigious award and I am truly honoured. Mentorship from such a key player in the industry, plus financial support like this will help me really focus on growing my business and realising my lifelong dream - establishing Bianca Saunders as a global fashion brand.”
On why Saunders stood out from the competition, Charbit, added: “Bianca Saunders presented a solid and unique project anchored in the now and today’s values. I would like to sincerely thank ANDAM and all the jury members for this choice which contributes unveil future successes and opens up our industry to broader horizons.”
The internationally recognised Grand Prize award celebrates young fashion talent and is open to a designer of any nationality, but they must own a French company or be willing to establish a sustainable business in France.
This year’s Grand Prize was a tightly fought contest with Saunders up against fellow London-based designers Grace Wales Bonner and Rokh, as well as New York-based Area, Casablanca founded by Charaf Tajer, Paris-based designer Ludovic de Saint Sernin, and Berlin-based GmbH from design duo Serhat Işık and Benjamin A. Huseby, who were recently named creative directors of Trussard.
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