DUTCH FASHION AWARDS 2007

01 november 2007 - By DFF Marketing
KLAVERS VAN ENGELEN © PETER STIGTER

On Thursday November 1st 2007 the first edition of the Mercedes-Benz Dutch Fashion Awards took place in the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam; honouring distinguishing design talent in the Dutch national fashion industry. An international jury unanimously decided to award the main prize, which includes a financial reward of 25.000 euros, to design duo Klavers van Engelen for their strong identity, their coherent presentation and collection, modern feel and the fact that they have created innovation internationally.

International jury member Bernadette Wittmann surprised nominee Daryl van Wouw with the Bread & Butter Design Young Talent Prize 2007 which enables him to host his own stand on the coming edition of Bread & Butter (Bread & Butter Studio VI).

The Mercedes-Benz Dutch Fashion Awards are meant to create a positive stimulation for the Dutch fashion industry, underlining the cultural and economic importance of this sector for the Netherlands. The Dutch Fashion Foundation, initiator of the Mercedes-Benz Dutch Fashion Awards, established an independent committee of Dutch fashion professionals and opinion makers from the commercial and cultural field and invited them to nominate those designers they feel have the best chances of breaking through internationally within the next two years.

From these prenominations, honorary member of the international jury Maria Luisa Poumaillou, selected the seven nominees: WOLF/ van Benthum, Spijkers & Spijkers, Mada van Gaans, Klavers van Engelen, Jeroen van Tuyl, Jan Taminiau and Daryl van Wouw. Based on the discussions with the nominees and their presentations on November 1st, the international jury finally chose Klavers van Engelen as the label most likely to break through internationally. Cabaret artist and actor Viggo Waas honoured Ruud van der Peijl and Carice van Houten as the Male and Female Dutch Fashion Icons. The presentation of the evening was in  hands of Dutch actress Hanna Verboom. The awards were designed by the renowned Dutch design Atelier Ted Noten.

The Dutch Fashion Awards-event highlights the current best of Dutch fashion, presenting it in a clear overview for the international fashion system and thereby creating the ideal occasion for creativity and commerce to meet and inspire each other in the light of further profiling and strengthening the position of Dutch fashion on the global market. This initiative is hence more that just a cash prize, it is also a presentation and connection platform with international exposure, on the highest imaginable level of Dutch fashion.

KLAVERS VAN ENGELEN © PETER STIGTER
© Peter Stigter

© Peter Stigter
© Peter Stigter
DUTCH FASHION AWARDS 2007 
© PETER STIGTER
© Peter Stigter
© PHOTO'S PETER STIGTER 
DFA 2007 BEURS VAN BERLAGE  01-11-07
© Peter Stigter
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© PHOTO'S PETER STIGTER 
DFA 2007 BEURS VAN BERLAGE  01-11-07
© Peter Stigter
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© PHOTO'S PETER STIGTER 
DFA 2007 BEURS VAN BERLAGE  01-11-07
© Peter Stigter
DUTCH FASHION AWARDS 2007 
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© Peter Stigter
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
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© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz
© Melissa Dziadowicz

Dutch Fashion Awards 2007

Nomination
To become nominated for the Dutch Fashion Awards, the criteria are that the designer:

– graduated from a recognised (inter-)national fashion academy,
– owns the Dutch nationality, or has been living and working in the Netherlands for at least 5 years,
– runs his or her own registered enterprise,
– has developed at least five collections under his or her own label,
– shows a striking talent creating a fashion label with distinguished style and knows to present this convincingly,
– is nominated by at least 3 members of the Academy of Dutch Fashion Design,
– has already taken strategic steps onto the international fashion market.

In order to guarantee an objective and independent vote, the Dutch Fashion Foundation has invited a select group of national decision makers and key-players in fashion to serve on the Academy of Dutch Fashion Design. The Members of the Academy of Dutch Fashion Design are: Amsterdam International Fashion Week, Arnhem Fashion Biënnale, Dutch Fashion Foundation, Fonds voor Beeldende Kunst Vormgeving en Bouwkunst, HTNK, Intres, Modefabriek, MODINT, Orson+Bodil, Prins Bernard Foundation, World Fashion Centre. For the Dutch Fashion Awards 2007 they (pre)nominated a total of twelve designers: Jan Taminiau, Francisco van Benthum, Mada van Gaans, Spijkers en Spijkers, Monique van Heist, Oscar Suleyman, Hans Ubbink, Percy Irausquin, Klavers van Engelen, Jeroen van Tuyl, G+N and Daryl van Wouw. The honorary member of the international jury, Maria Luisa Poumaillou, selected the final seven nominees that presented their oeuvre and ambitions to the jury and public on November 1st.

Nominees Dutch Fashion Awards 2007:
Francisco van Benthum
Spijkers en Spijkers
Mada van Gaans
Klavers van Engelen
Jeroen van Tuyl
Jan Taminiau
Daryl van Wouw

International jury
An international jury of top-ranking fashion industry professionals representing a cross-section of the international fashion industry, decide objectively which designer they expect is most likely to bring his/her label onto the international market. All jury members invited by the Dutch Fashion Foundation believe in its mission of promoting Dutch fashion on a national and international level.

Jury members Dutch Fashion Awards 2007
Maria Luisa Poumaillou – Fashion expert and owner of several high profile fashion stores in Paris
Valentina Maggi – Headhunter Floriane de Saint Pierre & Associes, Paris
Bernadette Wittmann – Project manager Bread & Butter, Berlin
Christine Ellis – Director Christine Ellis Associates, Milan and buyer for Bergdorf Goodman
Cecilia Jesi Ferrari – Fashion consultant and buyer for Neiman Marcus
Barbara Franchin – Founder and director ITS International Talent Support, Italy

Mercedes-Benz Dutch Fashion Award 2007 – Winner: Klavers van Engelen
The Mercedes-Benz Dutch Fashion Award is presented to the Dutch fashion design label most likely to succeed in bringing its label onto the international market. The winner of the Mercedes-Benz Dutch Fashion Award receives a financial reward of 25.000 euro which will enable the label to take further steps in the international fashion industry.

Dutch Fashion Icon Femme & Dutch Fashion Icon Homme 2007 – Winners: Carice van Houten & Ruud van der Peijl
The 28 pre-nominees chosen by the Academy of Dutch Fashion Design in the first round of procedure leading up to the final nominees, have together chosen their favorite Dutch Style Icons. A collective voice of the designers, being an homage to the muses and wearers.