December 19th 2005 - RESULTS OF THE 23rd INTERNATIONAL YOUNG FASHION DESIGNERS CONTEST 2005

The great final of the international young fashion designers contest, in both fashion and accessories categories, took place on Thursday, December, 15th in the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris.

Concerning the Fashion design category, the event gathered 145 students from 17 different countries (Germany, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colmbia, France, United-Kingdom, Italy, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, Peru, Philipinnes, China, Sweden, Taïland, USA), while 40 other young people from 8 countries (Canada, China, Colombia, France, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines and USA) competed in the accessories category.

The theme of this year competition was « Fashion, Art and Industry » . The contestants were asked to deal with it according to their own cultural references.

This year, 16 incitation prizes and 1 Grand Prix in the Fashion design category have been awarded, while 7 incitation prizes and 1 grand prix have been given for the accessories selection.

Both fshion and accessories jurys were made of journalists, professionals and designers from the fashion idustry.

Accessories jury

Peggy Huyn Kinh, President of the jury – accessories designer, Jean Mouclier – designer, Franceline Prat – Vogue France, Stiletto, Wallpaper, Claudie Violette – Editor in chief of Le Bijoutier, Grégory Pons - Les Echos, Le Monde.

Fashion jury

Pierre Cardin – President of the jury, Marc Le Bihan –designer, M. François Lesage, Adam Jones –designer, Marcel Marongiu –designer, Catherine Join Diertele – Curator of the Musée de la Mode et du Costume in Paris, Maria-Luisa Poumaillou –Creative Director of the shop Maria Luisa, Brigitte Bensimon – Saks Fifth Avenue, Helga Brejla – Editor in chief of th fashion department of Gala, Marie-Ange Horlaville – France 3 - Le Figaro Magazine, Yoko Otsuka – Nihon Sen-I-Shimbun, Yumiko Hara – Asahi Shimbun, Pia Alisjahbana – Dewi.

Pierre Cardin has decided to give a special prize to Nur Hidjrah – Indonesia.

MEGAN STEIN
Winner of the Grand Prize For Fashion 2005
USA

Bowl dress in wool and jacket
in leather with a zip and a big large collar.

The International Contest of Young Fashion Designers has been created in 1982 in Japan by Air France Japan. The year after, the Fédération Française de la Couture, du Prêt-à-Porter, des Couturiers et des Créateurs de Mode took part in it and gave it its international dimension.

Supported by PFAFF, sewing-machine designer for over 140 years, the DEFI and sponsored by the Région Île-de-France, the competition allows young designers from all over the world to present their creations in a professional environment and in front of people of the fashion world. It is also the occasion for them to confront their know-hows, their technics, their projects and the different cultures they are coming from.

Moreover, in order to emphasize discussion between the different countries, a debate has taken place on December, 14th with the representatives of the 17 countries. The theme of the meeting was : « The stakes of teaching fashion design and to lead to fashion jobs – the delicate equilibrance between art and industry ».

Press Contact - GROUPE 22V-Jean-Claude Chiroutte +33(0)1 43 14 85 25 fax +33(0)1 43 14 85 31 presse@groupe22v.com